Hanoi commits security to foreigners

Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao has pledged to ensure safety and security for international organisations and enterprises operating in the capital city.

In a message to foreign firms and agencies, Thao stated that over the past few days Vietnamese people, including those in Hanoi, have shown great national patriotism and strongly opposed China’s recent illegal placement of its large oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

However, he said, a number of activists and extremists in some provinces have caused social disorder and destroyed the property of foreign businesses. The riots have damage Vietnams’ international reputation and resulted in detrimental effects to business operations, investment environment, and external relation policies of the Vietnamese Party and State.

In response, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has requested tough measures to prevent further unrest and offer support to affected enterprises in a bid to maintain political stability and nationwide security.

Thao vowed to strictly follow the Government leader’s instructions and implement Vietnam’s international commitments to ensure absolute safety for foreign diplomats, workers, investors and visitors in Hanoi.

Officials charged over illegal forest listing

Four officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Office in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong are being prosecuted for "irresponsibility causing serious consequences".

Following a police investigation, the suspects illegally listed 78ha of forest as ‘abandoned land'.

Their actions led to trees being chopped down, causing damage of over VND500 million ($23,500).

Vietnam attends ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM)

A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen attended the 23rd ALMM held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from May 20-22.

The meeting addressed progress made on the establishment of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and the implementation of the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Work Programme (ALM-WP) for the 2010-2015 period.

It also examined measures to instill in the regional workforce a heightened awareness of the importance of economic competitiveness and concrete measures that need to be undertaken to boost the competiveness of goods and services produced in the region, within the context of realizing the ASEAN Community by December 31, 2015.

Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the progress of implementing the ASCC master plan and ancillary programmes in recent times, noting with great satisfaction the pace of development in the areas of labour market information, corporate social responsibility, labour relations, occupational health and safety, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

They appreciated Vietnam’s effort in organising a mid-term conference to review implementation of programmes in the 2010-2015 period in Da Lat City in April 2014. Its petitions and proposals on prioritised fields lay a firm foundation for labour cooperation in the future.

They agreed to promote intra cooperation and called on member countries to devise strategies and strive to build creative and dynamic labour forces, while supporting businesses in creating better jobs and a more harmonious working environment.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the ministers issued a joint statement, agreeing that Laos will the host the 24th event in 2016.

As acknowledged in the joint statement, the Vietnamese delegation was singled out for its active participation and contributions to debates at the conference, particularly in regards to measures to bolster labour cooperation among member countries and improve the competitive edge of the labour forces.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Chuyen met with the Lao labour minister on cooperative measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Government tightens vehicle resale rules

People who sell or gift their vehicles must inform the concerned authorities who issue registration certificates.

If the authorities are not informed, these individuals could face administrative action in case the vehicles are involved in an accident or are used for criminal activities.

The order, issued in Circular 15 by the Ministry of Public Security, will be effective from June 1 and will replace Circular 36 on vehicle registration. Within 30 days of the ownership rights being transferred, organisations and individuals who purchase or are gifted vehicles must complete the registration procedures on the transfer of ownership with the vehicle registration agencies.

Vietnam to present Annual Tourism Report

A forum soliciting information for publication in the Vietnam Annual Tourism Report 2013 was held in Hanoi on May 22.

The event was hosted by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism with the technical support of the European Union project “Environmental and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development”.

Domestic and international experts will help Vietnam develop and disseminate the report.

David McEwen, a project specialist, presented an in-depth proposal pertaining to the content at the report, saying it should include an overview of 2013’s tourism objective implementation , an overview of the global tourism growth in ASEAN and Vietnam, and tourism marketing strategies.

This will be the first annual report on the country's tourism, contributing to bringing benefits to the tourism sector, potential investors, and state agencies.

The first annual report is expected to be released in September.

Japan funds JPY60 mln for Vietnam’s IT training

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will finance JPY60 million for a project to develop competitive human resources for the information technology (IT) sector in Hanoi between 2014 and 2016.

The project will be carried out by Vietnam Software and Information Technology Services Association (VINASA) and Japan’s Sapporo IT Front-SITF organization.

It helps build and run training programmes for Vietnamese engineers in IT businesses. It aims to train 10 trainers and more than 130 engineers from universities and businesses across Hanoi.

A recent VINASA survey conducted in nearly 40 Vietnamese IT businesses shows businesses that have developed relations with Japan achieved growth of 30-50% or even 200% in 2012-2013.

Hoa Hao Buddhists convene fourth congress

Delegates from Hoa Hao Buddhist chapters nationwide gathered at An Hoa Pagoda in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on May 22 for the sect’s fourth congress for the 2014-2019 term.

The congress’ opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and head of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs Pham Dung, and other Party, Government and Fatherland Front officials.

The congress elected a 27-member Central Executive Board of the sect, headed by Nguyen Tan Dat.

In its action programme for the fourth tenure, the Central Executive Board of Hoa Hao Buddhist Sect said it will continue upholding achievements reached in the last tenure, contributing to promoting moral values and national culture quintessence.

The sect will also work to foster more social and charitable activities, thus joining hands with other religions and people nationwide in the national construction process.

During the third tenure lasting from 2009-2014, the sect built many houses for the poor and bridges in rural areas, and presented gifts to the needy at a total sum of more than VND734 billion (nearly US$34.5 million).

Founded in 1939 in An Giang province, the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect has developed in 19 provinces and cities nationwide with over 2 million followers.

Meeting marks International Day for Biodiversity

A meeting was held in Hanoi on May 22 to raise public awareness of the need to protect biodiversity and water and prevent the illegal hunting and trafficking of exotic animals.

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Bui Cach Tuyen noted in Vietnam, the consumption of wild animals has been at an alarming level in recent years.

This not only destroys the ecosystem but also has a knock-on harmful effect on society, economy, human health and national security, he said.

Tuyen stressed that the country needs to implement effective measures to prevent the illegal activities.

He also added that Vietnam has been recognised globally for its wide range of biological diversity and is one of the countries prioritizing protecting worldwide biological diversity.

At the event, the MONRE also awarded 17 winners of a children’s competition on wildlife protection.

Result of a survey on biodiversity was also announced by Vietnam-based HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and the Department of Biodiversity Conservation.

Launched by the United Nations in 2000, the annual event aims to increase community awareness of the issues related to global biodiversity and wildlife conservation.

Job fair for Vietnamese students in Taiwan

Nearly 400 Vietnamese students recently participated in a job fair at National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), seeking to fill suitable vacancies at Taiwanese companies.

The event attracted 18 Taiwanese companies, including household brand names E. Sun Bank, Cathay Life Insurance, Vedan, Multicom, Fubon Life Insurance, Vnex, Nanpao, Asus, and Pouchen.  

The fair served as a bridge connecting Vietnamese students with Taiwanese companies, assisting them in locating employment after graduation.

Job seekers visited booths and held direct interviews with potential employers.

A workshop was also held, creating an opportunity for employers to provide information about the work environment and the job position along with long-term prospects for future advancement.

Vietnam calls on WHO members to adapt to climate change

A Vietnamese official has delivered an impassioned speech at the ongoing 67th Assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO), calling on the organisation and United Nations agencies to intensify their response to climate change.

In his address, Deputy Health Minister Le Quang Cuong also asked nations to strengthen their connections within the framework of the Regional Forum on Environment and Health between the 10 ASEAN member countries and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Mongolia.

He confirmed the determination of the Vietnamese Government and Health Ministry to build and implement national strategies and action plans on dealing with the threat of climate change from now to 2020.

The speech also focused on how the environmental crisis damages human health and each country’s socio-economic development.

The 67 th World Health Assembly is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 19-24, with the participation of 194 country members.

During this session, the Vietnamese delegation is scheduled to give over 20 reports, including ones on infectious and non-infectious disease prevention, preparations for a influenza pandemic and newly-emerging contagious diseases, and the care for people with disabilities.-

Charity programme helps needy people in Tuyen Quang

The Tin Tuc (News) daily newspaper of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in collaboration with the Nam Duong Investment JSC on May 21 presented 800 cans of powder milk to ethnic children in Hoang Khai commune, Yen Son district of northern Tuyen Quang province.

The milk donation is part of the “Accompanying disadvantaged areas” programme that was launched by the newspaper in August 2012 to assist poor people in natural calamity-prone areas nationwide.

This is the second time the programme brought help to Tuyen Quang. Last year, the newspaper and the company donated 200 cans of milk to ethnic children in the province’s Lang Can commune, Lam Binh district.

The programme has so far helped children from poor families in Son La, Ha Giang, Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh provinces.-

Medical specialists share experience in obstetrics, gynecology

Domestic and foreign obstetrics and gynecology experts are taking part in a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on May 22-23 to share experience in bettering public healthcare services.

The 14 th Vietnam/France/Asia-Pacific Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology was organised by the Tu Du Obstetrics Hospital and the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians.

More than 60 scientific reports on newborn screenings, prenatal diagnosis, and cosmetic surgery were presented during the two-day event.

Medical documents and valuable clinical experience shared at the previous events have been applied effectively at the municipal Tu Du Obstetrics Hospital.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien highlighted the annual international workshop as an opportunity for the city to look towards a practical programme for better public health.-

Vietnam attaches importance to protecting endangered wildlife

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) always attaches importance to taking measures to protect endangered wildlife, Deputy Minister Bui Cach Tuyen said on May 22.

At a Hanoi meeting in response to the International Day for Biological Diversity, which falls on May 22, Tuyen said that the illegal consumption and trading of wild animals is a threat to Vietnam’s biodiversity, adding this year’s day, themed “protecting endangered animals”, aims to raise community awareness about the problems.

According to Anjali Acharya, leader of the World Bank’s Environment Team, the alarming decrease in the number of wild animals is attributed to the smuggling and illegal consumption of species.

She voiced her pleasure about Vietnamese youngsters’ attention to wildlife protection and believed that they will contribute greatly to intensifying biodiversity preservation.

On the occasion, the organising board honoured 17 individuals for wining a competition themed “teenagers and actions for wildlife” jointly held by the ministry’s General Department of Environment and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.

The winning works include video clips and short essays that have become valuable material for the youth union’s campaigns aimed to raise public awareness of wildlife protection.-

Training program changes lives

The HCM City Women's Union has created several models of vocational training for women workers, helping improve lives.

For the last two years the living room of Pham Thi Ngoc Chi's house in District One's Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward has been used as a place to make handmade beaded products.

The products include bags, chains, bracelets, animal and flower shapes made from plastic beads of various sizes and colours.

Chi, deputy head of a team making the product, said the ward unit of the Women's Union established the team in 2012 with 10 members, most of them poor, elderly, and disabled.

The team now has more than 30 members.

Thanks to the work each now earns VND500,000 to VND1.5 million (US$24 - 70) a month, she said.

The team also provides free three-month courses in the handicraft for other women in the ward, she said.

Similarly, the District 3 Women's Union provides free vocational training in manicure and pedicure, makeup, and cooking.

Since 2009 it has trained 881 women at a cost of more than VND200 million ($9,500), with 362 of them now having stable jobs.

Phan Thi Cuc, who attends a hairdressing class run by the unit, said: "With vocational skills, we [women] can find a job to earn extra income for our families."

The District 3 unit has also liaised with factories, clubs, and domestic services groups to get jobs for 249 women.

In Nha Be District's Nhon Duc Commune, the Women's Union has set up an agriculture extension club for women farmers.

Tran Thi Bich Thuy, deputy chairwoman of the city Women's Union, said because of budget constraints, the union focused on training in seasonal and services jobs.

The programmes to provide vocational skills and jobs for women have helped many find stable jobs and stabilise their lives, she added.

HCM City inspection teams visit disease hotspots

The deputy head of the HCM City Health Department, Nguyen Huu Hung, yesterday visited Thu Duc District to check for risks associated with dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease.

Risk was still high, particularly in residential areas with high rental density, Hung said.

Rubbish, including coconuts and disposable containers, which are home to mosquito larvae, were scattered around homes.

The peak season for the two diseases has arrived, so the department has set up four inspection teams to check all districts.

Hung said that the department's head and deputy head were leading each team.

From the beginning of the year to May 16, the city's Preventive Medicine Division reported 2,809 dengue fever case and 3,470 hand, foot, and mouth cases.

The districts of 8, Binh Chanh, Thu Duc and Binh Tan have had the highest number of cases.

However, the city saw a downward trend of dengue fever cases over the last three months, from 513 cases in March to 203 in May.

However, the upward trend could return as the rainy season would arrive soon, he said.

He said that it was important to disinfect areas and clear rubbish around residents' houses and sewerage.

Schools, especially kindergartens, should be disinfected carefully, especially to prevent the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease, he said.

Health centres in the city's wards and communes are providing free chloramine to residents for disinfectant use.

Hung said it was important for residents to disinfect their houses and keep everything clean, and wash their hands with soap to prevent hand, foot and mouth infection.

Circular broadens access to loans

Home buyers will be able to mortgage houses they are going to buy, known as the "future asset", to acquire bank loans as of next month.

The future assets that will be eligible to be used as mortgage collateral include existing commercial housing or residential housing belonging to housing projects. Houses being built on land given to borrowers are not eligible to be mortgaged at the bank.

The move is part of a circular jointly issued this month by the ministries of Construction, Justice, Natural Resources and Environment and the State Bank of Viet Nam on housing mortgages, that will take effect on June 16.

The plan will also allow borrowers who don't have any existing mortgages to access bank loans. The value of the future houses – the mortgage – will be set by the buyers and the bank.

House buyers will have to show housing purchase contracts signed by them and housing developers and at least the foundation of the house must be completed before it can be mortgaged to a bank.

HCM City-based Dat Lanh Real Estate Company vice director, Nguyen Van Duc, told Nguoi Lao dong (The Labourer) newspaper that the circular would help people, particularly low-income earners, access loans to buy houses.

Previously, those who wanted to use loans to buy houses were required to put up other items for security, such as houses or land, a condition which many borrowers failed to meet.

Chairman of HCM City Real Estate Association, Le Hoang Ngan, said the VND30 trillion (nearly US$1.5 billion) package launched in May last year offered preferential loans for low income earners to buy affordable housing.

About 4.8 per cent of the package had been disbursed, he said, implying that disbursement speed had been too slow. Ngan said that the current pace had been partly due to borrowers not having assets to mortgage, excluding them from bank loans.

The circular could speed up the disbursement of the package and stimulate the domestic real estate market, he said.

Vice director general of Phuong Dong Joint Stocks Commercial Bank, Truong Dinh Long, said the circular would create more confidence in lending to house buyers.

"The move promotes the bank's credit for individuals and connections between banks and housing developers," he said.

However, both commercial banks and house buyers could be vulnerable to housing firm decisions to halt or stop projects altogether.

Long also emphasised that it was necessary for the bank to assess the competence of housing investors.

Unexploded grenades leave 2 kids dead

Two children from Phuc Trach Commune in the central province of Quang Binh were killed yesterday by two grenades left over from the American War, the communal Party secretary Nguyen Van Hien told Viet Nam News in a phone interview.

Hien said the nine-year-old and five-year-old found the grenades in a field and took them home to play with at lunchtime yesterday.

The deadly devices, which look like toys, killed the two children immediately.

Whirlwinds damage houses, injure 5

Whirlwinds have destroyed three houses and blown the roofs off 10 others in the mountainous districts of Nam Giang and Bac Tra My in the central province of Quang Nam.

Five people were injured in the two districts.

Head of the Nam Giang People's Committee secretariat, To Ngoi Voi, confirmed yesterday that whirlwinds and heavy rain in Ca Dy Commune destroyed a house and blew the roofs of three more on Tuesday, damaging farm produce at the same time.

He said three people received first aid for minor injuries at the communal health centre.

Firms pay fines for violating food safety rules

Authorities in the central Ha Tinh Province found that nearly 1,000 food manufacturers and traders were violating food safety regulations.

This was discovered after 4,650 local manufacturers were investigated during an action month on food safety organised from April 16 to May 16.

Director of the provincial Health Department Le Ngoc Chau said that the firms paid nearly VND443 million, or US$21,000, as fines for violating food processing and storage rules and for not having legal documents for conducting their operations.

The authorities also destroyed products, including confectionary, soft drinks and milk worth over VND100 million, or $4,760, for not having labels, not stating their origin and expired products.

Fatherland Front raises $568,000 for Truong Sa

The Ho Chi Minh City office of the Vietnam Fatherland Front has so far received donations of nearly VND12 billion (US$568,000) to the ‘For beloved Truong Sa’ program.

Trade union officials donate VND1.2 billion to the Coast Guard, fisheries surveillance forces, and fishermen in Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands (Photo: SGGP)

On May 22 Nguyen Hoang Nang, member of the city Party Committee, handed over to the committee VND1.2 billion raised by trade union officials for the Coast Guard, fisheries surveillance forces, and fishermen.

The city Department of Health’s trade union contributed VND400 million, Co.opMart gave VND300 million, and the HCMC War Veterans Association donated VND70 million.

The program was launched a week ago and will go on until the end of this month.

Training program changes lives

The HCM City Women's Union has created several models of vocational training for women workers, helping improve lives.

For the last two years the living room of Pham Thi Ngoc Chi's house in District One's Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward has been used as a place to make handmade beaded products.

The products include bags, chains, bracelets, animal and flower shapes made from plastic beads of various sizes and colours.

Chi, deputy head of a team making the product, said the ward unit of the Women's Union established the team in 2012 with 10 members, most of them poor, elderly, and disabled.

The team now has more than 30 members.

Thanks to the work each now earns VND500,000 to VND1.5 million (US$24 - 70) a month, she said.

The team also provides free three-month courses in the handicraft for other women in the ward, she said.

Similarly, the District 3 Women's Union provides free vocational training in manicure and pedicure, makeup, and cooking.

Since 2009 it has trained 881 women at a cost of more than VND200 million ($9,500), with 362 of them now having stable jobs.

Phan Thi Cuc, who attends a hairdressing class run by the unit, said: "With vocational skills, we [women] can find a job to earn extra income for our families."

The District 3 unit has also liaised with factories, clubs, and domestic services groups to get jobs for 249 women.

In Nha Be District's Nhon Duc Commune, the Women's Union has set up an agriculture extension club for women farmers.

Tran Thi Bich Thuy, deputy chairwoman of the city Women's Union, said because of budget constraints, the union focused on training in seasonal and services jobs.

The programmes to provide vocational skills and jobs for women have helped many find stable jobs and stabilise their lives, she added.

Program to improve daycare for children in industrial parks begins

A project to support private daycare centers in industrial parks and export processing zones to ensure 75 per cent of workers’ children under three are given care at safe, quality nurseries began May 19.

The first phase of the program by the Vietnam Women's Union and the Ministry of Education and Training will be carried out from 2014 to 2017 in Hanoi, the northern provinces of Hai Phong and Bac Ninh, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and the southern provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Ten more provinces will be included in the second phase.

It aims to have more then 500 private daycare centers in the country by 2020 by encouraging old teachers to set up new ones and funding improvements to existing ones.