UNICEF helps Vietnam improve sanitation, clean water

The representatives of UNICEF and Vietnam Red Cross Society sign a cooperation agreement to implement a project on improving sanitation and clean water.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Vietnam Red Cross Society signed a cooperation agreement on November 8 to implement a project on urgent response to the need for clean water of children and families affected by drought and salt intrusion in Vietnam. 

The project was sponsored by the UNICEF and will be carried out from November this year to February, 2017, with a total budget of 125,000 USD. 

UNICEF Vietnam Acting Representative Jesper Moller said the project focuses on improving access to clean water and sanitary practice for 30,000 vulnerable people, including 10,000 children and 15,000 women, in six provinces – Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan in the south central region, Ben Tre and Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta, and Kon Tum and Gia Lai in the Central Highlands. 

The project will help enhance management capacity and local officials’ capability in the implementation of initiatives towards restoring and strengthening resilience against drought and salt intrusion in the six target provinces, particularly children-centred ones. 

Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, noted that this is the first project the society directly work with UNICEF to improve the life of children and people in the Mekong Delta. 

Thu hoped UNICEF will continue working with the society to provide more help to those who are in disadvantaged circumstances.

National External Information Service Awards 2016 launched

The National External Information Service Awards 2016 was launched in Hanoi on November 8.

The competition is designed for Vietnamese at home and abroad, and foreigners. It is divided into various categories, including print media, radio and television broadcasts, electronic media, press photos, landscape photos, and books.

Entries either in Vietnamese or foreign languages should have been published or broadcast by domestic or international press agencies between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

The awarding ceremony is scheduled to take place in Hanoi in May 2017.

The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) will chair the 2016 competition, following the two successful events chaired by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in 2014 and the Vietnam Television (VTV) in 2015.

Speaking at the launching event, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Information and Education Commission Pham Van Linh said the competition aims to confirm the crucial role of external information service in popularising Vietnamese culture, history and people as well as providing accurate information on the situation in Vietnam, the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, and the country’s standpoints on regional and international issues.

The entries also contribute to refuting and countering incorrect information and false allegations about Vietnam , he said.

The awards aim to encourage journalists and press agencies to take part in external information activities while increasing connectivity and co-ordination among press agencies in the field.

Chinese Red Cross donates 100,000 USD to flood victims

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has donated 100,000 USD to support flood-hit residents in Vietnam’s central provinces. 

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiao Yong handed over the money to the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) on November 8, and extended his sympathy to the affected people. 

The ambassador expressed his hope that the aid will partly help the flood victims overcome consequences and stabilise their lives. 

VRCS Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said the sum will be used to build 40 flood-proof houses for residents in the central province of Quang Binh who have recently suffered heavy losses from the devastating floods. 

Over the past years, RCSC has supported VRCS in personnel training. In July, RCSC alos granted 700,000 Chinese yuan (100,000 USD) to a project designed to improve natural disaster adaptation for communities.

Vietnamese expats in Laos support flood victims in central region

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung on November 8 received 11,850 USD donated by Vietnamese expats in Laos to locals in flood-hit central provinces. 

The money was contributed by Vietnamese organisations, groups and individuals who are living, working and studying in Vientiane, Laos. 

The Ambassador thanked overseas Vietnamese in Laos for their donations for people heavily affected by floods, affirming that the sum will be promptly delivered to the needy. 

Hung expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in Laos will continue their support for the flood-hit people in the homeland while building on their positive outcomes to contribute more to the host country’s development. 

Previously, Buddhist monks at the Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane donated 20,000 USD and clothes for flood victims in the central provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh.

Additional measures sought for pollution-affected central locals

Ministry officials discussed offering supplementary assistance to victims in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, who have been hit by Formosa-caused sea environmental incident at a meeting in Hanoi on November 8. 

The meeting was hosted by the steering committee on measures to stabilise lives, production and trading in four central provinces hit by sea environmental incident and chaired by permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, localities have basically completed loss estimate. 

Under the Prime Minister’s direction, 3 trillion VND (136.3 million USD) was advanced for Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. 

As of November 7, Thua Thien-Hue and Ha Tinh provinces disbursed 213.9 billion VND (9.7 million USD) and 49.4 billion VND (2.24 million USD), respectively. 

Quang Tri plans to offer compensation to residents on November 10, while Quang Binh will do so from November 11. 

The Health Ministry reported that more than 5,300 tonnes of frozen fish remain in stock in the four provinces, 82 percent of them are safe for use.

Deputy PM Binh asked ministries concerned to refine two projects on livelihood support and monitoring system to submit to the government for adoption, which are expected to be launched next year and completed in late 2018. 

The ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Public Health, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences were required to provide objective, correct and scientific information about the sea environment in the region which has been safe for swimming, tourism and aquaculture for the media to inform to the public, Binh said.

Vietnam Stamp Day launched

The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Post and the Vietnam Stamp Association have jointly declared the Prime Minister’s decision recognising August 27 as Vietnam Stamp Day. 

At the ceremony held on November 8, Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan said that the Vietnam Stamp Day aims to affirm the historical role of stamps in the struggle for national independence as well as the development of the country.

The day is also to honour stamp designers, encourage the use and promotion of Vietnamese stamps, boost stamp collection movement among people, and raise the sense of responsibility of the whole society for developing stamps. 

On August 27, 1946, the first self-designed set of Vietnamese stamps was printed to celebrate the country’s National Day. 

Since then, more than 1,000 sets with 3,000 stamp samples have been released in Vietnam.

Vietnamese, Chinese youths join hands in environmental protection

Vietnamese young people and their Chinese peers exchanged knowledge about environmental protection at a forum in Ha Long city, Vietnam’s northern province of Quang Ninh, on November 8.

The forum on youths’ role in environmental protection and sustainable development was part of the ongoing third Vietnam-China Youth Festival.

Addressing the function, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Quang Ninh chapter, highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two neighbouring countries.

The festival has contributed to educating Vietnamese and Chinese young people about the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and allowed them to discuss how to promote their role in socialism construction in each nation, she said.

Li Guoyang, Deputy Secretary of China’s Communist Youth League in Anhui province, stressed the important role played by young people in environmental protection and sustainable development.

It is necessary to step up the communication work, especially among young generations, in order to raise public awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development, he said, calling for the participation of agencies and sectors in each nation as well as regional countries in this regard.

Liu Dan, a representative from China’s Tianjin province, said economic development should be combined with environmental protection, suggesting the application of biological methods in clean agricultural production.

Meanwhile, Gong Jun from Anhui city underlined the need to change Chinese youths’ awareness of environmental protection. The young delegate noted hope that there will be more and more people joining hands in environmental protection, thus helping improve the world’s biological system and spur sustainable development.

Vu Ngoc Linh, a delegate from Ha Long city, said to turn Ha Long into a more civilised and friendly tourism city, it is necessary to raise the awareness of young people and the public in general of tourism activities and biological environment, particularly UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay.

On November 7, a group of 199 Chinese young people entered Vietnam via the Mong Cai International Border Gate in Quang Ninh province and visited Ba Vang pagoda in Uong Bi city.

The same day, the Quang Ninh provincial leaders had a meeting with the Chinese youths.

Youths plant trees to show Vietnam-China “forever green” amity

More than 200 youth representatives of Vietnam and China participated in a tree planting ceremony in Lao Cai province to solidify the two neighbours’ friendship. 

The tree planting at the northern border province’s centre for youth activities on November 8 was part of the third Vietnam-China Youth Festival, which is taking place in various Vietnamese localities from November 7-10. 

The trees will be nurtured by local youths and act as a testimony of the “forever green and forever sustainable” amity between the youths of the two countries, said Giang Quoc Hung, Secretary of the provincial chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. 

The planting aims to strengthen youth exchanges and encourage environmental protection, he added. 

The same day, the Vietnamese and Chinese youth delegations visited Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam, and Ham Rong mountain in Sa Pa district and engaged in a musical exchange with local youths.-

Vietnam on show in Argentina

A string of events were held in Mar del Plata and Miramar cities in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 5-6 to promote Vietnam.

Hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina and the Argentina-Vietnam Cultural Institute (ICAV), the event attracted local students and Vietnam-loving friends in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, ICAV Vice President Ezequiel Ramoneda briefed participants on Vietnam’s geographic position, history, and national liberation wars.

He also highlighted Vietnam’s national reconstruction after the country was re-unified, as well as socio-economic achievements during the country’s Doi moi (renewal) period.

ICAV President Poldi Sosa highlighted Vietnam’s history during national defence and construction, affirming that Vietnam was a source of encouragement for progressive movements in the South American nation and in Latin America.

Prof. Renee Girardi from Buenos Aires University praised the services and contributions of the late President Ho Chi Minh to Vietnam’s national liberation cause, and shared her impression of Vietnamese people, tradition and culture during her two-week trip to the country in 2014.

In the framework of the events, short videos on popular tourism sites, and consequences from wars in Vietnam were screened.

Argentine friends reminisced about peace demonstrations to support Vietnam, and campaigns on collecting medicine for Vietnamese people during the war.

Representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina took the occasion to present books on President Ho Chi Minh to Mar del Plata University.

Vietnam communist youth union treasures ties with Chinese counterpart

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) always treasures the friendship and cooperation with the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), Secretary of the HCMCYU Central Committee Le Quoc Phong has said. 

He met with First Secretary of the CYLC Central Committee Qin Yizhi in Hanoi on November 7, in the framework of the third Vietnam-China Youth Festival from November 7-10. 

The festival takes place in coincidence with the 66th founding anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations, Phong said, stressing that Vietnamese young people are well aware of their responsibility to maintain and develop the bilateral friendship which has been nurtured by both countries’ leaders and people throughout history. 

He asked both sides to do a good job of implementing the agreements and joint statements reached between their countries’ Party and State leaders, along with existing cooperation programmes and activities. 

They should continue increasing exchanges and personnel training, and encourage young entrepreneurs to share experience and seek investment opportunities in each other’s countries. It is also necessary to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Chinese border localities to conduct more exchanges between their youngsters, he said. 

Phong also suggested further joint activities between young reporters and press officials of the two youth organisations. 

At the meeting, First Secretary Qin said this year’s festival is an opportunity to augment the two neighbours’ time-honoured amity, with youth exchanges serving as a booster of the bilateral ties. 

He affirmed the CYLC always works to promote the countries’ sound cooperation. 

He expressed support of the Vietnamese side’s suggestion on ways to bolster cooperation, laying emphasis on exchanges between border provinces, personnel training and partnership between young business people.

Dong Nai marks 20th anniversary of ties with RoK province

The southern province of Dong Nai marked the 20th anniversary of its partnership with Gyeongnam province of the Republic of Korea at a ceremony on November 7. 

Speaking at the event, Tran Van Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, appreciated the cooperation and results the two sides have achieved. 

Investment of RoK businesses in Dong Nai has become the solid foundation for the bilateral cooperation for the interest of people and the development of each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, said Vinh. 

On his part, Ryu Soon Hyun, Vice Governor of Gyeongnam province, said the relationship between Dong Nai and Gyeongnam has developed comprehensively. 

He expressed thanks to Dong Nai authorities for facilitating the operation of RoK businesses in general and Gyeongnam’s in particular in the province, and pledged to boost bilateral ties in culture and other fields. 

Dong Nai and Gyeongnam signed the Memorandum of Understanding on establishing friendly and cooperative relationship in 1996, under which the two sides frequently organise activities and exchange visits. 

According to the RoK General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai attracted 5.95 billion USD of investment from the RoK as of the end of 2015. At present, 260 RoK enterprises are operating in this southern province.

Forum promotes VN-China youths’ role in preserving culture

A forum highlighting the role of Vietnamese and Chinese youths in preserving cultural identities and developing tourism was held in the northern province of Phu Tho on November 7 as part of the ongoing 3rd Vietnam-China Youth Festival.

At the event, 200 delegates had a chance to understand more about the Vietnam-China traditional friendship as well as promote their pioneering role in conserving cultural values and fostering tourism development in the integration period.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Phu Tho chapter Pham Thanh Tung, stressed the forum provides participants with a good opportunity to learn about history and cultural values of both Vietnam and China, contributing to nurturing the friendship and time-honoured relations between the two Parties, States and their people.

Deputy Director of China’s International Youth Exchange Centre Hong Guimei, said the event helped foster links between Vietnamese and Chinese youths, thus strengthening the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Attendees were introduced to cultural and natural heritages of the world in Vietnam like Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary, the Complex of Hue Monuments and Ha Long Bay among others.

Chinese delegates also introduced their country’s cultural identities to Vietnamese peers.

After the forum, the Chinese youth delegation paid a courtesy visit to the provincial leaders.

The two countries’ youths also joined together in an art exchange programme in Hung Vuong University later the same day.

Power fluctuations damage gadgets in Krông Năng homes

Hundreds of residents in Central Highlands Đắk Lắk Province’s Krông Năng District have complained that sudden, repeated electricity fluctuations have short-circuited and damaged their electrical appliances.

Nguyễn Văn Đăng, a resident of Tam Giang Commune, said that because of heavy rains, most of his family members were at home watching TV when suddenly there was voltage fluctuation. The TV exploded before they could turn it off, he said, adding that some of his neighbours’ electrical appliances were also damaged.

Nguyễn Văn Cư, another resident, said the incident took place around 10am on Sunday and that his bulbs blinked three times and shattered. 

Cư said the electricity company should compensate affected residents so they can buy new equipment.

Nguyễn Thanh Sang, director of the Electricity of Việt Nam in Krông Năng District, said  power supply to some of the communes, such as Tam Giang, was not stable on Sunday. The heavy downpour affected the T74N sub-station’s neutral line, causing fluctuations.

The company has made an estimate of the residents’ losses and will help those affected  buy new equipment, Sang said, requesting those whose bulbs had got damaged to replace it themselves. 

People-to-people diplomacy consolidates Vietnam-Cambodia friendship

Clubs of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh have stepped up their operations in several areas like economics, culture and social affairs.

According to the HCM City Union of Friendship Organisations, the Businesspeople Club has carried out programmes aiming to boost trade and investment cooperation between enterprises in the city and Cambodian localities.

The club also presented gifts and provided free medical check-ups and medicine for residents in Cambodia’s Kan Dan and Ta Keo provinces, and Khmer ethnic people in  

Vietnam’s Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces, Sai Gon Giai phong (Saigon Liberated) newspaper reported.

Such people-to-people activities have contributed to enhancing the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as HCM City and Phnom Penh.

Samsung launches IT software challenge

Samsung Vietnam Mobile Research and Development Centre (SVMC) has launched the "Samsung Software Challenge 2016" - a computer software programming contest for university students in Hanoi. 

This is the second programming contest that Samsung has organised in Vietnam. It has attracted 1,200 entries from university students across the nation. From the entries, the organising committee has selected 857 candidates to participate in the preliminary round. 

Based on the preliminary round’s results, the 200 best candidates will be selected to advance through to the final round, which will be held at the Centre for Educational Testing-Vietnam National University in Hanoi on November 12. 

These top 200 candidates will participate in an advanced algorithm and programming skills contest. One first place winner will be selected, along with five second place winners and 20 consolation prizes, worth a combined total of 500 million VND (more than 22,200 USD). 

There is also one trip to visit the Republic of Korea, including a tour of Samsung’s headquarters, which will be awarded to the six best candidates of the contest.

Kiên Giang Delta province hosts festival

The 10th Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival will begin on November 12 in the Cửu Long ( Mekong) River Delta province of Kiên Giang.

The two-day event will include a street show of traditional martial arts and dances performed by art troupes of Kiên Giang and other provinces in the region.

A long-boat race attracting dozens of teams from provinces and cities in the region will also be featured.

Organised by the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in co-operation with its partners, this year’s festival will also host folk games, artistic performances, cooking and sports competitions.

The featured performances include songs and dances featuring the Khmer culture and lifestyle. There are more than 1.3 million Khmer people living in the region. 

Local tourist agencies have been encouraged to offer new tours at reasonable prices for local and foreign visitors. 

The event is part of cultural activities to celebrate the 2016 National Tourism Year – Phú Quốc and Cửu Long ( Mekong) River Delta, themed “Discovering Southern Land.”

It was organised alongside the Ok Om Bok, also called the Festival of Worshipping the Moon, which is one of three main festivals that the Khmer celebrates every year.

Ok Om Bok takes place on the 15th day of the Cadac month in the Buddhist calendar - the 15th day of the 10th lunar month - when it changes from the rainy season to the dry season, and the growing season to the harvest season.

The festival will begin at 8am in November 12 in Kiên Giang’s Gò Quao Town.

Gender equality forum in Ha Noi

Experts yesterday met and discussed how to promote gender equality, provide economic opportunities and empower women at a forum in Hà Nội.

The forum, “Her Challenges, Her Opportunities”, was organised by the Kenan Institute Asia and 23 other civil society organisations and government agencies that work with women. The forum is part of the Vietnam Women Improving Lives and Leadership (Vietnam WILL) Project, which started in October 2014 and will run till March 2017 in Hà Nội and the northern province of Hòa Bình. The project is funded by the US Department of State.

The forum was attended by around 100 Vietnamese and international participants from the public sector, private sector, embassies, international organisations, United Nations agencies, and 23 social organisations and government agencies in Hà Nội and Hòa Bình Province. Experts discussed issues related to the health, education, disability and economic opportunities of women and girls.

Hà Đình Bốn, Director of Legal Department under Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that though the Government of Việt Nam was making numerous efforts to promote gender equality and empower women, a lot of challenges were coming up during the implementation process.

Currently, gender equality and women’s rights are not perceived as important issues by a large section of the population, Bốn and other experts at the forum agreed. As a result, women continue to face violence and the mindset that favours males remains deeply rooted in the community.

The gender gap in income too has not improved significantly in many rural and remote areas where women are bound by practices that don’t favour gender equality.

“We have to keep improving our policy system, fostering social communication, raising awareness of all classes and mobilising civil resources to promote women’s development,” Bốn said.

Experts proposed that to improve the implementation of gender equality laws, ministries, sectors and localities had to formulate and execute legal documents, strategies and plans. Another important measure was to reinforce training and communication for gender equality awareness among the staff and civil servants in charge of policy formulation and execution.

At the forum, Phan Kiều Anh, country programme manager of Kenan in Việt Nam, said, “Women can not only speak on behalf of marginalised groups, such as minorities and people with disabilities, but also play an important role in advocating change.”

The US Department of State, through its grant for the Vietnam WILL project, was helping empower women so they have a greater say in Việt Nam’s decision-making process, she said.

Ted Osius, ambassador of the US Embassy, said, “Kenan and the project’s efforts to advance gender equality, tackle domestic violence and combat discrimination will make Việt Nam a stronger and more prosperous country.”

Over the past two years, the Vietnam WILL Project has enabled the leaders and staff of 23 civil society organisations and government agencies to campaign on behalf of women, as a means to prevent conflict between the needs of women and the state, and involve women in conflict prevention through the development of civil society.

HCM City residents urged to use tap water

Thousands of families in HCM City’s suburban areas refuse to use tap water, prefer well water despite of increasing risks caused by ground water use and exploitation.

The Sài Gòn Water Corporation (SAWACO) early last week reported that almost 88,300 water clocks installed at local residences were unused or the families - accounting for about seven per cent of the company’s clients, did not use tap water at all.

Around 10 per cent of the company clients use a mere one to four cubic metres of water a month. Hóc Môn District has the highest number of households not using tap water with 6,766 out of 27,030.

People, especially in districts 9, Hóc Môn, Củ Chi, Gò Vấp, and Bình Tân do not use tap water for a range of reasons. For example, they said it has a fishy smell, or they were used to well water, which is much cheaper than tap water, as they just paid few million Vietnamese đồng to dig a well.

A resident in District 12 told Tuổi trẻ (Youth) newspaper that previously they did not have tap water to use but now, with the increased availability of tap water, they use both tap water and well water.

“We use tap water for cooking, drinking and bathing, while well water is used for other activities like watering plants or washing vehicles,” he said.

Head of the water resource division under the city’s Natural Resources and Environment Department, Nguyễn Văn Ngà, said that now there were 256,453 wells in the city, of which, 256,131 were used by households and 322 industrial wells served production.

The over-exploitation of underground water poses risks of land depression and groundwater pollution.

Since 2007, the city People’s Committee has restricted groundwater exploitation in the city but has so far failed to curb the problem.

SAWACO has been expanding water supply networks, with more water pipes and water clocks being installed for local households.

However, in 2013, about 57,000 water clocks were reportedly going unused. The number has now increased to nearly 88,300.

Ngà, from the water resource division, said that the city’s environment department would complete a survey on underground water by the end of this year, which is expected to pave the way for a proposal on reduced exploitation of ground water.

Bùi Thanh Giang, vice director general of SAWACO, warned about a possible intrusion of salt water to local underground water sources.

“As an impact of climate change, rising sea water levels are becoming more and more severe. When ground water is pumped up, salt water could intrude into it,” Giang said.

He said that the unused water clocks were also wasted, because the water clocks could have been installed for other people who wanted to use tap water.

Earlier this month, at a meeting to announce tap water supply to all households in District 12, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Lê Văn Khoa urged people to use tap water instead of well water for cooking to avoid health risks.

The move followed a report by the HCM City Preventive Health Centre after testing 197 well-water samples. Most of the samples were taken from districts 12, Gò Vấp, Tân Bình, Tân Phú, and Hóc Môn.

Its tests so far this year found that 42 per cent of the samples had low pH values – indicating acidity – while the acceptable range set by the Ministry of Health is 6.0-8.5.

Another 9.14 per cent had ammonia content exceeding the standard of 3 milligrammes per litre. A high concentration of iron was found in 2.03 per cent of the samples, most of them obtained from districts 12 and Hóc Môn.

More than 4 per cent was found to contain E.coli and coliform bacteria in excess of the standard of 20 colonies per 100ml.

The centre’s doctors said water with a low pH value causes itching and badly damages tooth enamel.

The ammonia in groundwater turns into nitrate when it comes into contact with oxygen, and leads to methemoglobin when it enters the body, they said.

Nitrate and nitrite associated with amino acids in the body creates nitrosamine, which causes cancer, they said.

As of July this year 91.13 per cent of all households in the city were provided with tap water. 

Hà Nội to crack down on fire hazards

Alarmed by last week’s karaoke bar fire that claimed 13 lives, Hà Nội authorities have issued Document 6737/UBNC-NC, signifying the intention to take a heavy-handed approach to ensure fire safety regulations are closely observed in the capital.

Accordingly, directors and heads of the city’s departments and offices, and chairpeople of all the city’s districts and communes will conduct thorough assessments after the serious fire accident that took place on November 1 at a karaoke bar in Dịch Vọng Hậu Ward, Cầu Giấy District. Planning and fire protection plans in the city will be adjusted and supplemented according to the lessons learned and experience drawn from the incident, in order to ensure the efficiency of fire protection operations.

Local authorities are also tasked with reviewing fire safety compliance in all establishments and buildings in the city, especially in high-rise apartment buildings, highly populated areas, commercial centres, industrial zones, and entertainment venues.

The issuing of permits for advertisement boards, especially large ones, will also be subject to more scrutiny. Billboards that do not comply with regulations will be uninstalled.

All businesses that fail to meet fire safety regulations will be demanded to halt operations, until conditions are fully observed, which include fire safety equipment, fire alarm systems, and clear emergency exit maps, among others.

Those who deliberately flout the law will be heavily punished. Enforcement measures and prosecution will be administered, as provided by law, if such violations constitute a crime.

Infrastructure and planning in aid of fire protection efforts such as traffic planning, water sources, information networks, and electricity networks in the city will also be assessed, and all deficiencies will need to be addressed promptly.

Fire and rescue police agencies are required to undergo more capacity building and drill practices.

The Department of Information and Communications and the media need to implement awareness raising programmes, providing the public with legal information, self-aid knowledge, and outlines on safe evacuation in case of fire and explosions.

Reports on the assessment and a list of violators are to be submitted to the Committee before December 25.

Vietnam, Japan energy seminar focuses on efficiency

Energy is used in every part of the country’s economy—powering homes, businesses, factories, and cars, said speakers at a seminar on November 7 in Soc Trang Province.

In addition, Tran Van Thanh, deputy director of Soc Trang Department of Natural Resources and Environment said, meeting the region’s and country’s climate commitments also means reducing emissions from every sector.

Japanese experts from Hiroshima Prefecture in turn introduced state-of-the-art software on management of water supply, technology on wastewater treatment and fuel production from waste.

Smart energy policy utilizing their software, they said, can drive down greenhouse gas emissions quickly and affordably, while stimulating innovation and economic growth.

Alternatively, poorly-designed energy policy, no matter how well-intentioned, can increase pollution, lock-in dirty technologies, waste money, and prevent the country from meeting its climate goals.

Because the energy industry is capital-intensive, and energy infrastructure is built to last for decades, it is crucial to get these policies right the first time, the Japanese experts said.

At the seminar, the experts discussed various types of energy policies and how they can be structured and implemented to serve their intended purpose. It concluded with a highlight handful of real-world examples.

Man who set Saigon house on fire admits being high on meth

The man who set his house in Ho Chi Minh City's backpacker precinct on fire on November 6 has finally admitted that he used methamphetamine before committing the act.

Nguyen Van Canh, 36, first told the police that he burnt a piece of paper and unintentionally caused the fire.

But police ordered a drug test and the man eventually confessed that he had used the illegal drug. The test confirmed this.

Canh lives with nine people of two different families in the house on Bui Vien Street. He allegedly threatened to set the house on fire before the blaze broke out. He reportedly left the house right after that.

Police have arrested him for further investigation.

The incident on November 6 prompted many foreign tourists and locals to run away from the street in panic.

Smoke was seen spreading from the house but the nearby houses did not catch fire.

Dozens of police officers with three fire trucks quickly arrived at the scene and put out the fire.

Bui Vien is part of the backpackers' area in the city downtown, which also includes Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham.

The area, almost always crowded on weekend nights, is home to many bars, hotels, hostels, restaurants and travel agents targeting foreign visitors.

Massive batch of war-era ammunition unearthed in Vietnam

Military officers in Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands collected 80 cartridges and a large amount of explosives at a construction site on November 7.

A construction company found the large batch of unexploded ordnance when installing a water pipe in the province’s capital Buon Ma Thuot on November 4.

The province’s military command sent a team down on November 5. They also found a rocket propulsion unit M72 and a combination gun M30.

All the arms and ammunition will be disposed off, an official said.

An artillery regiment of the US-backed South Vietnam was based in the area during the Vietnam War.

Unexploded ordnance from the war still threatens a fifth of land mass across Vietnam and explosions occur frequently, killing more than 1,500 people every year and maiming and injuring 2,200 more, according to official data.

Argentine Film Festival opens November 12 in HCM City

Movie lovers in Vietnam will have a chance to enjoy the best in Argentine cinematography and its transnational influence at a film festival transpiring November 12-13 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event, organized by the Embassy of Argentina in Vietnam aims to help Vietnamese audiences learn more about the unique aspects and rich cultural heritage of South American filmmaking.

During the two-day event, four fascinating films in the genres of comedy, romance and animation will screen at the Cinebox theatre located at 212 Ly Chinh Thang Street in District 3. Admission is free.

Chinese youths always stand by side with Vietnamese fellows

The Chinese youths will always stand side by side with Vietnamese fellows in fostering the well-established ties between the two countries, First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China Central Committee Qin Yizhi told head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan during a reception in Hanoi on November 8. 

Qin, who is in Vietnam to attend the third Vietnam-China youth festival, informed the host about joint work between the two youth unions over the past years, saying that the festival held in Vietnam affords the two countries’ young generations a chance to review bilateral friendship between the two Parties, States and people. 

He also expressed his pleasure with great achievements that the Vietnamese people have reaped in the socialism building process under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. 

Quan, for his part, described the festival as a bright spot in collaboration between Vietnamese and Chinese young generations. 

He expressed wish that the two countries’ youth unions will continue enhancing cooperation in training young personnel and sharing expertise in the new context, for the benefit of the two peoples, and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world. 

The guest also wished that the festival will be a success.-

Leaders send greetings to Cambodia on National Day

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent a bouquet of flowers while President Tran Dai Quang sent greetings to Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni on the occasion of the 63 rd National Day of Cambodia (November 9.) 

Congratulations were also cabled by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and by National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to President of the National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin and President of the Senate Samdech Say Chhum.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also extended congratulations to Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senior Minister Prak Sokhonn.

Greetings to Cambodian People’s Party on Cambodia’s Independence Day

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has sent a greeting message to the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on the occasion of Cambodia’s 63rd Independence Day (November 9). 

The message extends warm congratulations from the CPV and the Vietnamese people over the great and important achievements that Cambodia has made in the past time. 

“The CPV, the Vietnamese State and people will do their best, together with the CPP and the State and people of Cambodia, to preserve and unceasingly foster the everlasting good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, long-term and sustainable comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia,” the message writes.

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