Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has been named the Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control.

According to Prime Ministerial Decision No. 458/QD-TTg, signed on April 2, Deputy PM Dam will replace Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc in the position from the signature date.-

Thai drug dealer's death penalty upheld

The Supreme People's Court in HCM City yesterday rejected the appeal of a 32-year-old Thai national, Chimongkol Suaracha and handed him death penalty for illegal drug trafficking.

During the first trial, the HCM City People's Court was informed that the Vietnamese authorities had detected nearly 2 kilograms of heroin concealed in two albums in Chimongkol's luggage as she entered Viet Nam's Tan Son Nhat International Airport on October 1, 2012.

The Thai woman, who is a university graduate, had been promised a job at an automobile company in Viet Nam by a stranger, before being taken to Brazil, where she met drug dealers and collaborated with them to hide the drugs in her luggage and smuggled them into Viet Nam.

Company fined $43k for discharging waste

Sepzone-Linh Trung Limited Company, located in Trang Bang District, was fined VND928 million for discharging untreated water into Vam Co Dong River, provincial authorities announced on Thursday.

The wastewater treatment factory in the Linh Trung III Processing Zone, which belongs to Sepzone-Linh Trung Limited Company, discharged 6,400 cubic meters of untreated wastewater between January 12 and 14, according to the Tay Ninh Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Sepzone said the factory experienced technical problems that overloaded the storage tanks in the factory and that the company managed to fix the problems within five days.

US university signs up for student exchanges

The Viet Nam National University-HCM City yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with California State University-Fullerton for academic exchange and collaboration.

The exchange activities will focus on the fields of economics and business, computer science and engineering, mathematics, environmental engineering and Vietnamese studies.

Ha Noi Court says sorry to wrongly convicted

The Ha Noi People's Court yesterday apologised to Pham Duc Binh of Hoan Kiem District for a wrongful conviction handed down to him 14 years ago.

The apology, witnessed by authorities and local residents, was followed by a statement explaining that Binh had been unjustly convicted.

In March 2000, Binh was sentenced to 30 months in jail for "embezzlement and illegal use of socialist property" after the loss of VND179 million at a State-owned department store he ran. During the trial, Binh maintained his innocence. An appeal in January 2001 found Binh innocent of all charges.

Kidnapped child rescued after 9 hours

Police in HCM City's District 10 on Saturday rescued a five-year-old girl within nine hours of her being kidnapped from the Peadiatric Hospital No 1.

The hospital's cameras recorded the child being picked up by a strange woman while her mother was at a registration desk.

After the child and kidnapper, 23-year-old Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, were identified, the police spread out throughout District 4 in the afternoon and rescued the child. Tam escaped but was arrested yesterday morning when she returned to the hospital, police said.

Landslide blocks traffic in Gia Lai

Heavy rains on Saturday evening caused a landslide on National Highway 14 in Phu Hoa Town, Central Highlands Province of Gia Lai, blocking traffic until yesterday morning.

The traffic jam problem was compounded because the road – a part of the HCM Expressway – is currently under construction.

Hundreds of coaches, trucks and vehicles carrying building materials are reported to have been stranded following the landslide.

Quang Nam fights illegal gold mining

The Quang Nam authorities on Thursday asked for co-ordination from agencies in apprehending illegal gold miners working in the Bong Mieu gold mine in Tam Lanh Commune, Phu Ninh District.

Recently, especially after the Bong Mieu Gold Plant temporarily closed at the end of last year, illegal gold mining occurred in the commune, causing public disorder.

The illegal gold mining was reported in communes bordering Bac Tra My, Nui Thanh and Tien Phuoc districts.

Illegal miners gained access to the mines because the areas they are located in are vast, while the number of guards at the Bong Mieu Gold Plant were reduced after the plant closed down.

Also, an initial investigation of local authorities showed that some guards who had been sacked by the plant lent a hand with the illegal mining, as they knew how to gain access to the mines.

Authorities noted that besides local people, about 500 people from other provinces and cities came into the area to search for gold.

Although local authorities set up guard teams to arrest illegal miners, the few guards could not control the mining areas, which are hundreds of hectares in width.

Moreover, the 6666 Industrial Minerals Joint-stock Company was licensed to only sift minerals, though it used cyanide, which caused environmental pollution.

The Quang Nam People's Committee asked the Bong Mieu Gold Plant to work with provincial authorities to tighten management in those areas in which the plant was entrusted to supervise.

The Quang Nam Department of Natural Resources and Environment was asked to work with the Phu Ninh District People's Committee to check the 6666 Company's operation. Violations resulting in pollution will be punished based on present laws.

The Phu Ninh District People's Committee was assigned to provide information to local residents to urge them to stop mining gold in the areas and set up a plan to arrest violators.

Nguyen Ngoc Truyen, chief of the provincial People's Committee Secretariat, said that the province would set up a station to control illegal gold mining in Tam Lanh Commune.

Also, the people's committees of Nui Thanh, Tien Phuoc and Bac Tra My districts have responsibility for assisting with the station's management board to check and manage illegal mining in their localities.

More people volunteer to donate blood

As Viet Nam observes the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day today, major localities have reported a surge in donations this year, citing successful awareness raising campaigns.

In the capital city, more than 40,000 units of blood have been donated in the first three months of the year, says Ngo Tien Dung, head of Ha Noi Red Cross Association.

This marks 33 per cent of the annual target, he said, adding that more than 120,000 blood units were donated last year.

Confirming a year-on-year increase, the Ha Noi People's Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc said the blood donated so far meets more than 60 per cent of patients' demand.

"This improvement was made possible by a successful blood donation campaign," said Ngoc.

People from all over the city started donating blood on April 1, in the build up to the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.

Over the weekend, people in other cities and provinces flocked to donate blood to support the cause.

More than 1,500 officials, youth union members, soldiers, policemen, civil servants and workers in the southern city of Can Tho donated blood yesterday, responding to the message: "A drop of blood saves a life."

The city aims to collect 26,000 blood units this year. It reported heartening responses to blood donation drives during the Tet (Lunar New Year) and Spring festivals earlier this year.

In the northern province of Ninh Binh, nearly 3,000 people donated 1,224 blood units in the past week.

Nho Quan District led the provincial drive with 276 units. District authorities said the local Red Cross chapter's message about the significance and responsibility of making blood nations received a positive response with more people coming forward.

The province's target for this year is 5,000 units.

Officials in the Cao Lanh City of Dong Thap Province, said more than 1,000 people have so far registered to donate blood; and over 300 blood units were collected from a third of the respondents last Friday.

Last year, it had more than 28,000 blood donors, and targets an increase of 10,000 this year, according to the provincial Blood Donation Steering Committee.

The northern province of Ha Nam has reported the most significant increase in blood donations this year at 3,760, compared to a total of 4,600 for the whole of last year.

Local officials say this has not only met the province's needs but helped ease shortages in neighbouring provinces.

President Sang backs joint university project

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday asked municipal authorities as well as concerned central government agencies to remove obstacles for investors and contractors of the Viet Nam-Japan University.

During a visit to inspect progress made in building the university, which is located in the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park to the west of Ha Noi.

Covering a total area of 36.6ha, the university is being constructed at an estimated cost of US$330 million, including $200 million in ODA from the Japanese Government.

Currently, 23ha of the project area have been cleared, the President was told.

Work on the university began in 2013 and it is expected to open in 2019 with the capacity to accommodate 6,000 students.

President Sang stressed the significance of the project, which he said would help Vietnamese students learn about the latest scientific and technological developments in Japan.

The success of the project will not only contribute to deepening the friendship between Viet Nam and Japan, but also mark a bright spot in attracting foreign investment into the education and training sector, he said.

He asked ministries and capital city authorities to exert more efforts in removing obstacles for the project's investors and contractors so that it can be completed on schedule.

Currently, the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park hosts 70 projects with a combined capital of VND5.4 trillion ($253 million). It has earmarked 1,586ha for the construction of universities.

At least 30 people hospitalized after eating suspicious bread

Thirty people were hospitalized after eating suspicious bread in Lam Dong Province.

The patients in Da Lat were rushed to the hospital from April 3-4 after suffering from headache, severe abdominal pains, and vomiting.

Most patients were treated at the General Hospital while some went to private clinics. All patients recall eating bread at a bakery in Thai Phien Market.

The case is currently under investigation.

Memorial held for fallen soldiers in Paris

A memorial service to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Vietnam’s independence was held at Khuong Viet Pagoda on the outskirts of Paris on April 5.

The event attracted a large number of Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) living in France and Buddhist followers, aiming to promote solidarity amongst Vietnamese people both at home and abroad.

Two maps of Truong Sa (Spartly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands were displayed amid memorabilia honouring the soldiers who laid down their lives to protect Vietnam’s national sovereignty.

The ceremony provides Buddhist followers and OVs in France the opportunity to pay their respects to national heroes and educate the young generations about the nation’s traditions of patriotism and solidarity.

Venerable Thich Tinh Quang, head of Khuong Viet Pagoda, said the ceremony beckons Vietnamese people throughout the world to unite for national construction and defence.

Da Nang plans a greener future

The central city of Da Nang will have a face-lift as it becomes a green city following the Prime Minister's decision on the city's adjusted master urban plan for 2030 and 2050.

The plan, which was officially announced on Saturday, will build Da Nang as a centre of sports, education, science and technology for the central and Central Highlands region.

Da Nang also plays a strategic role in defence and security for the south central area, the Central Highlands and the entire country, boosting the socio-economic development for the region.

"The adjusted urban plan will play a key role for strategic and sustainable development of the city and the central and the Central Highlands regions," said chairman of the city's People's Committee, Van Huu Chien.

"It's also a legal base and a driving force to call for more investment in the city and the central region," Chien noted.

As planned, the city will include six inner districts and two suburban districts of Hoa Vang and Hoang Sa, with an expected population of 2.3 million.

The city will be built on 128,543ha, of which Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands are on 30,500ha.

The city, which was recognised as a First Class city in 2003, will develop a 130ha centre for finance, banking, trade and services in the downtown, and a 3,700ha coastal service area.

Under the adjusted plan, the city will develop public transport with 15 bus routes, eight Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and three metro routes, which aim to reduce carbon emissions, as well as address overcrowding and traffic congestion.

The main route of the city's Bus Rapid Transit system will help connect Son Tra peninsula to the city's centre, Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary and the Ba Na Hills resort, along with industrial parks, university areas and tourist attractions.

Also, Da Nang Airports will be expanded to host 15 million passengers in 2030, while Tien Sa port will be upgraded to handle 5.5 million tonnes of cargo and 300,000 tourists per year, as well as new construction at Lien Chieu port.

The plan also includes upgrading national highway No 1 and No 14G, as well as construction of new ring roads.

Further, the city will build a 100ha solid clean technology waste processing plant at Khanh Son dump to treat 2,000 tonnes of waste per day.

The plan also includes the development of industrial parks on over 1,100ha and a 397ha centralised Information Technology park.

Last year, the World Bank agreed to finance the Da Nang City Sustainable Development Project with US$272.1 million, of which $202.4 million will be funded by the World Bank.

The American firm Rocky Lai & Associates Inc began construction of a 341-ha Da Nang IT Park as the largest ‘Silicon Valley' in the central region of Viet Nam, with a total investment of $278 million.

The city plays an important role as a logistical centre for the coastal central region and the East-West Economic Corridor, which links Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Viet Nam.

Paediatrics hospital faces overcrowding

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Viet Tien yesterday asked other hospitals in the capital city and neighbouring provinces to support the National Hospital of Paediatrics, which has been strained by overcrowding over the last two months.

Meeting with representatives of the Ha Noi Health Department and hospitals, he said the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management should oversee patient transfers to other hospitals in a streamlined process.

He also recommended that parents of children with respiratory problems visit local hospitals first.

The meeting followed media reports that the number of children admitted to the National Paediatrics Hospital in Ha Noi had increased sharply in the last two months, causing overcrowding and a shortage of medical equipment for treatment.

From 1,400 in February, the number has shot up to almost 1,700 in April, 30 per cent more than the hospital's capacity, the reports said.

They cited deputy director of the hospital, Le Thanh Hai, as saying three or four children were having to share a bed in certain wards.

About 100-120 patients suffering from serious illnesses need respiratory ventilators while 200-250 need oxygen cylinders.

The respiratory department has 14 doctors and 36 nurses, meaning each doctor is in charge of 21 patients, half of whom need respiratory ventilators.

The communicable diseases department, meanwhile, is handling over 200 measles patients and facing a shortage of equipment, doctors said.

Among the patients, almost 500 are from Ha Noi, about 50 are from Bac Ninh Province and others are from the neighbouring provinces of Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Bac Giang and central Thanh Hoa and Nghe An.

Hai said that the hospital requested that the Health Ministry facilitate the transfer of patients to other hospitals and arrange funding for more medical equipment.

He also called for the simplification of health insurance procedures to relieve the burden on patients.

Summit discusses cervical spine care

More than 280 international and Vietnamese spine surgeons and researchers are taking part in a conference today of the Cervical Spine Research Society-Asia Pacific Section in HCM City to discuss the latest advances in cervical spine care.

Viet Nam is the first country in Southeast Asia to organise the conference, which aims to improve cervical spine care in the Asia Pacific region, said Associate Professor Vo Van Thanh, who is president of the CSRS-AP 5 Congress.

"It's a great opportunity for local surgeons to learn about the latest knowledge about spinal deformities and cervical surgeries," he said.

"There is a severe shortage of cervical spine surgeons in Viet Nam, with around 60 cervical spine surgeons nationwide," Thanh, who is also president of the Spine Society of HCM City, said.

"It is a modest figure compared to other countries such as South Korea, which has 400 surgeons, and Japan, which has 3,000," he added.

The annual two-day conference, which began on Friday, has attracted 170 participants from 20 countries and territories, including the US, Germany, France, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, China, India and Spain.

Myelopathy, spinal stenosis, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, laminoplasty and cervical pedicle screws are among the topics being discussed at the meeting. Also scheduled from April 3-5 is the 20th meeting of the Spine Society of HCM City. The Butterfly Foundation-SSHV Operative Spine Course with live surgeries, to be held on April 7-8 at the Hospital for Trauma-Orthopedics in HCM City, would help young spine surgeons learn about spinal deformities and cervical spine surgeries, Thanh said.

On April 9-12, the Spine Society of HCM City will take part in the fifth International Spine Symposium and Operative Spine Course organised at Khanh Hoa General Hospital in Nha Trang.

Paris forum brings Dien Bien Phu victory into focus

A forum looking into late General Vo Nguyen Giap and the Dien Bien Phu victory (1954-2014) has been held at the Museum of Living History in Montreuil city, France.

The April 5 event was chaired by historian Alain Ruscio, L’Humanite newspaper reporter in Vietnam from 1978-1980, and former French Ambassador to Vietnam Claude Blanchemaison.

At the forum, Ruscio analysed the historical background of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and highlighted the role of General Giap in the triumph, which marked a turning point in the struggle for independence and decolonisation around the globe in the 20th century.

He said despite its predominance in troop strength and weaponry, the French army was still defeated since it undervalued the Vietnamese people who were determined to safeguard their country’s independence and freedom.

Recalling his meetings with General Giap, Blanchemaison described him as a plain man who loved French literary works and the values of the French Revolution in 1789.

At the function, participants also underlined the role of other Vietnamese officials such as Le Duc Tho and Nguyen Thi Binh who made great contributions to the signing of the 1973 Paris Accords, ending the US war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

They also talked about the post-war development of the country and the growing partnership between Vietnam and France.-

Deputy PM praises localities’ efforts to ensure traffic order

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has praised authorities of 22 provinces and cities nationwide, including Bac Giang and Ninh Thuan, for taking effective measures to ensure traffic safety and reduce more than 20 percent of road deaths in the first quarter of this year.

According to the Traffic Safety Board of northern Bac Giang province, in the January-March period, 83 traffic accidents happened across the locality, killing 25 people and injuring 65 others.

Compared to the same period last year, declines were seen in the number of cases (33 percent), deaths (40.4 percent) and injuries (48.4 percent).

In the central province of Ninh Thuan, local authorities have also bettered their management of traffic situation.

It also enjoyed decreases in the number of accidents (66 cases), fatalities (19 people) and injuries (95).

In efforts to ensure traffic order, from the beginning of 2014 the two localities have carried out a number of drastic measures, including intensifying patrols on key roads, tightening the management of transportation services and vehicle capacity as well as strictly punishing traffic violators.

Activities to publicise laws on traffic safety and order have been organised regularly in order to raise locals’ awareness.

According to the National Committee for Traffic Safety, more than 6,500 traffic accidents have occurred across Vietnam so far this year, resulting in 2,427 deaths and leaving 6,427 people injured.

Traffic police have handled nearly 998,000 violation cases, collecting total administrative fines of 577 billion VND (27.1 million USD) and detaining 6,300 cars and nearly 115,000 motorbikes.

Lao Cai helps residents recover from disaster

Authorities in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai have mobilised local forces to help people overcome the consequences of whirlwinds and hailstorms that occurred on late April 5.

They have outlined support plans for the local people, according to the standing board of the provincial Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue.

Initial statistics show that nearly 100 houses along with public buildings and crops were damaged by natural disasters in the province.

Bat Xat district was the hardest hit, with 35 houses and hundreds of hectares of crops damaged.

Over the past few days, whirlwinds and hailstorms have also ravaged other northern provinces such as Ha Giang, Dien Bien and Cao Bang.

Vietnam, Laos enhance quality of training exchange students

Vietnam and Laos will better educate their exchange students, especially those taking advanced degree courses, to meet the integration demand of both countries.

The agreement was reached by Deputy Minister of Education and Training Tran Quang Quy and Lao Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Kongsy Sengmany at a working session in Vientiane, Laos, on April 4.

In the coming time, both sides will also provide the best possible conditions for teachers who are sent to Laos to teach Vietnamese, while upgrading the Nguyen Du school in Vientiane into the first Vietnam-Laos bilingual school.

At the session, the two sides highly valued their close cooperation in training up a high-quality workforce and sharing experiences, thus reinforcing the bilateral cooperation in the field.

They voiced their pleasure at the increasing number of exchange students, adding that Vietnam currently has around 400 undergraduates in Laos. Vietnam has helped 13 schools in Laos build Vietnamese language curriculum.-

Project ensures sustainable livelihood for Mekong residents

The Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) held a conference in Kien Giang province on April 4 to review a project on climate smart community-based disaster risk reduction in the Mekong Delta.

Supported by the Australian Red Cross and the German Red Cross, the project has been implemented between July 2012 and December 2014 in 15 target communes in Kien Giang and An Giang provinces.

Its overall goal is to increase the resilience of regional vulnerable communities against the current and projected impacts of climate change.

The project was built on the VRC’s successful community based disaster risk reduction model, which includes a range of training courses for communities, schools and for emergency response teams as well as activities to improve early warning systems and provide resources and equipment for communities.

It has extended this model to integrate climate change adaptation considerations and has drawn on the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement’s experience and expertise in Vietnam in water, sanitation, health and livelihoods.

It has also proposed and supported the implementation of livelihood and climate change mitigation models, focusing on vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Many models have proven effective, helping ensure sustainable livelihoods for locals and minimising the impacts of climate change.-

Power transformer benefits Son La’s ethnic minorities

The Song Ma 110kV transformer station in Huoi Mot commune, Song Ma district, northern Son La province, was put in commission on April 4, expecting to aid economic development in areas lying along the Vietnam-Laos border.

At the inaugural ceremony, Tong Thi Phong, a Politburo member and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly, said the station will work to connect ethnic minorities in the province to the modern life as will contribute to safeguarding security and defence on Vietnam’s shared border with Laos.

Phong requested the northern power authority and the provincial People’s Committee to quicken the planning of other power supply projects to bring electricity to many remote communes and village which are still unable to use this energy due to geographical difficulties.

In the meantime, the northern power corporation is working on a national power supply project for ethnic minorities in Son La, aiming to benefit 30,100 households in 557 villages of 106 communes.-

Deputy PM congratulates Khmer people for progress

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has called on the Khmer ethnic group to act as role models, especially in agricultural production and creating new-style rural areas.

The official made the appeal at an April 4 meeting with officials, dignitaries, monks, nuns and Khmer Buddhist followers from 17 southern cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho . Attendees had gathered to celebrate the Khmer people’s traditional New Year festival, Chol Chnam Thmay.

At the event, which was organised by the Steering Committee for the Southwestern region, Deputy PM Ninh urged the country’s Khmer population to bring into full play their traditional cultural identity along with ensuring political security and social order and safety.

He also asked the Khmer Theravada dignitaries to exert greater effort in Buddhist work to help the Patriotic United Buddhist Association improve its performance.

Monks and nuns were briefed on the socio-economic situation and national defence in the region as well as the Party and State’s policies towards the Khmer ethnic minorities over the past years.

The Deputy PM laid stress on the need for ministries, branches and localities in the region to implement national policies and guidelines on ethnics and religions while paying more care to Khmer people.

On this occasion, he wished all dignitaries and Khmer people a happy and safe festival.

According to Nguyen Quang Phong, deputy head of the committee, in 2013 and the first quarter of 2014, authorities have effectively implemented the ethnic and religious policies of the Party and the State, thus creating significant changes in various fields.

Localities have poured investment in socio-economic infrastructure and supported Khmer people in production, vocational training, job generation and poverty reduction, he said.

On this occasion, the committee presented 26 certificates of merit to individuals who have made great contributions to preserving and promoting Khmer people’s cultural values.

Can Tho is home to over 5,200 Khmer households with nearly 23,000 people who are living around 12 Khmer pagodas of the Khmer Nam Tong (Theravada).-

Hanoi offers housing for policy beneficiaries

The Hanoi People’s Committee plans to offer new housing for 222 families of those who rendered great services during the war and help 329 others in the city to repair their homes in the first six month of this year.

The move follows a Government Decision to improve the living conditions for families of wounded soldiers and revolutionary heroes in the city.

In the following six months, the city will help build new houses for 840 families and repair 1,033 others.

As planned, up to 7,492 families of this group in Hanoi will have new houses and repaired accommodation in 2015 and 2016.

According to preliminary data, about 10,000 families in the city require assistance in building and repairing houses-

Ho Chi Minh City intensifies HIV/AIDS prevention

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have set a target of curbing the rate of people living with HIV to under 1 percent by 2015 and maintaining this for the following years.

According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Hua Ngoc Thuan, the city will attempt to restrict new cases of HIV infection to under 0.08 percent by 2015, in a bid to reduce the negative influence of HIV/AIDS on the city’s socio-economic development.

In addition, the city will also intensify education and publicity work in a bid to raise the community’s awareness of HIV/AIDS, while focusing on providing anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment for HIV carriers.

New treatment methods with low expense will be also introduced to communities to help people living with HIV easily access them.

Campaigns raising awareness of how to prevent infections from passing between pregnant women and their babies will be introduced in the hope of eradicating HIV infections in newborns.

As of 2013, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 58,000 people living with HIV and 33,200 AIDS patients. The virus has led to the death of some 9.900 people in the city.

In the 2006-2010 period, there were 6,500 new HIV cases per year , however the figure was reduced to 2,200 from 2011-1013. The number of deaths caused by AIDS also saw a reducing trend every year.

In the coming time, the involvement of entire society is need to eradicate HIV/AIDS infection in the city and the country in general as soon as possible, Thuan said.-

Ho Chi Minh City releases 450,000 fingerlings to nature

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ho Chi Minh City on April 4 released over 450,000 small fishes to the Tau Hu – Ben Nghe to enrich and develop aquatic resources on the just cleaned canal.

Director of the department Nguyen Phuoc Trung said the annual act helps disseminate the information on the need to protect the environment and improve urban scene, thus raising the public’s awareness on the issue.

The department staff also delivered leaflets with content aimed at helping local residents better understand the need to protect the biological diversity and aquatic resources in general.