VietNam Society: 10/31/10

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Deputy PM Hai inspects flood-hit province

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai stopped over in Quang Binh province on October 7 as part of his field trip to the flood-hit central region.

Hai went straight to the worst-flooded district of Quang Trach to work with local administration on rescue measures and to share sympathy with victims at their homes.

The disaster killed 33 locals in Quang Binh, injured 11 others and left 22 missing from September 30-October 5.

The flood inundated almost 103,640 homes, causing damages of over 1.27 trillion VND (roughly 87.72 million USD).

In a working session with local authorities, the Deputy Prime Minister asked for greater efforts in the search and rescue work.

“The province should take initiative in allocating local budgets and Government aid to bring supplies to the flood-hit areas to help victims recover,” said Hai.

Up to October 7, a fundraising campaign on a national scale has collected over 20.8 billion VND, of which over 15.4 billion VND has been sent straight to flood-stricken central region provinces.

The Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front was the biggest donor with 6.9 billion VND. The capital city of Hanoi donated 5 billion VND, Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), 4 billion VND, and the northern province of Vinh Phuc, 2 billion VND./.

Hanoi’s sustainable development in limelight

Almost 600 domestic and foreign scientists gathered in Hanoi on Oct. 7 for a three-day international conference, “Sustainable Development of Hanoi Capital - Civilised and Heroic City for Peace”.

At the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang said the conference was an importance chance to assess and honour the traditions and civilised values in the glorious history of the capital city and the whole nation.

We should outline orientations and strategies to build Hanoi into a modern, elegant and civilised city, she said.

For his part, Secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi pointed out challenges to the capital city that need to be solved such as the fast increase in urban population, traffic jams and environmental pollution.

Meanwhile, planning and planning management have not been well controlled, leading to the degradation or disappearance of the capital’s architectural heritages and unequal development in urban and suburban areas, Nghi said.

There remained shortcomings in the capital city’s economic efficiency and competitiveness while its internal sources and advantages have not been fully tapped, he noted.

The capital’s economic development has failed to match its potential and socio-cultural development has not caught up with the capital’s economic development pace as well as its role and position, he added.

He said the capital city’s authorities considered the conference a chance to listen to scientists’ opinions on the city’s strengths and potential for development. He also hopes participants will put forth proposals on solutions to bring into play the values of Thang Long-Hanoi to build a sustainable development strategy for the city in the context of rapid global change.

At the conference, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Katherine Muller-Marin cited a recent study that was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and reported in its UK Economic Outlook publication as saying that Hanoi is projected to be one of the world’s top two cities in terms of average real GDP growth for 2008-2025.

In order that the city continue delivering accomplishments such as these, we need to be mindful of the challenges that rapid urbanisation poses, especially when it is about preserving cultural heritage, she said.

“If we wish for sustainable development in the next 10 years, 100 years, and even 1,000 years, we have to preserve the cultural values,” she said.

In his report on “Thang Long-Hanoi: Lasting and Sustainable Development” at the conference, Prof. Dr Vu Minh Giang mentioned four groups of issues that are discussed at the event. They include history and politics; cultural issues; socio-economic issues; and balancing natural resources and environmental conditions with urban management and construction.

A total of 157 reports will be presented at the conference.

Professor, Doctor William S. Logan of Deakin University , Melbourne , Australia , who has studied about Hanoi for 20 years, said Hanoi was one of a few cities in the world having a continuing history of being the capital city of a country for over 1,000 years, which makes it different from many other foreign cities.

Hanoi has to ensure that modern development doesn’t undermine the outstanding universal values if the city wants to maintain its distinctive character as one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in the world.

In his opinion, development and preserving heritages are not opposing issues. As the result, policy makers have to take planning issues into consideration and not destroy the city’s cultural values./.

New tool helps measure family planning effects

The Marie Stopes International Vietnam (MSI) plans to share a measurement tool for family planning programmes with Government agencies following its pilot use within MSI clinics, according to MSI country representative Nguyen Thi Bich Hang at the 2010 Asia-Pacific regional research workshop held in central coastal Nha Trang City.

This three-day workshop, which wraps up on October 7, was part of the MSI Research & Metrics Team's on-going research on sexual and reproductive health and family planning in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The measurement tool, called the Impact Calculator, was introduced by Marie Stopes International in 2009. It is intended to help to accurately calculate the effect of family planning programmes on health, economics and the environment, said Hang.

She said this tool helps to evaluate family planning performance and can, consequently, give clear evidence for policymakers to establish long-term policies.

The Impact Calculator can calculate demographic and health impacts, such as the number of pregnancies and abortions averted, the number of maternal, infant and adolescent deaths prevented. The tool can also calculate economic impacts, such as the total savings of households, and community and health systems. And finally, it accounts for environmental impacts, such as the ecological footprints averted.

As of July, 109 private health clinics of BlueStar Network, which operated under supervision of MSI, provided family planning services for nearly 446,000 clients. About a quarter of them received modern contraceptive methods.

The Impact Calculator can translate this set of data to show that nearly 17,000 USD had been saved and nearly 68,000 abortion cases had been averted.

This tool has been made available for use in more than 40 countries worldwide./.

People power helps build bridges

People in Dak To Lung Commune in Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands rebuild bridges after floods and storms washed away 11 structures. — VNS Photo Van Dat

KON TUM — When floods and storms washed away 11 bridges in a commune in Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands early this year, locals did not wring their hands and wait for the authorities to rebuild them.

Instead, the people of Dak To Lung Commune quickly began the building work themselves.

They provided all the construction materials and labour that were needed while in other places even in Kon Ray District, where the commune is situated, residents waited for the government.

Though only four of the 11 destroyed bridges have been built so far, "they are of great help," A Dia, deputy head of the commune People's Committee, said.

Before the work began, local authorities held a meeting with residents. Virtually everyone expressed enthusiastic support for the project.

A Ngoa, head of Vi Vang Village, said when the village began building Kon Vi Vang cable bridge, many people insisted on donating land to widen roads, wood, and manpower without seeking anything in return.

After a storm blew away a bridge connecting Vi Vang with Provincial Road No. 677 over Dak Koi Spring, people in the village faced great difficulty in crossing the stream.

When authorities gave them cement, everyone in the village went to look for wood and rope.

Kon Ray District officials sent experts to help them build the bridges and locals provided them with food for free. Even children pitched in, giving a helping hand by collecting rocks and wood and doing other jobs.

Within a few weeks some of the bridges showed signs of deteriorating. A village meeting was held and all the young people agreed to maintain the bridges and carry out all the repairs needed.

The bridges were divided into 10-metre stretches and assigned by group to them.

"The people who are responsible for a portion will repair it," Dinh Dia, secretary of the village's Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, said.

Eight months after being built, the bridges remain in excellent condition. — VNS

Emergency aid delivered to residents hit by floods

More than 60 residents in Quang Binh Province's Tan Hoa Commune are living in caves because their houses are still submerged. About 10 tonnes of food will be supplied to the province's isolated communes in the next four days. — VNA/VNS Photo Duy Hung-Manh Thanh

HA NOI — Helicopters and naval rescue ships have reached residents isolated by floods in the northern central region to provide them with emergency aid, said local authorities. About 10 tonnes of food will be supplied to the province's isolated communes in the next four days.

As of yesterday, the death toll was 28; seven are still missing and nine were injured; as many as 12 fishing vessels sank and 14 others were damaged and needed rescuing, according to the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control.

Though water started receding, 82 communes in Ha Tinh Province and 52 communes in Quang Tri Province remain submerged, and many areas are still isolated due to landslides and blocked traffic.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai visited the affected areas yesterday to guide the delivery of the emergency aid.

The Government sent an urgent message requesting that local authorities in the central region immediately supply sufficient food and clean water for affected residents.

The Deputy PM required local authorities in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue provinces to supply 110 tonnes of instant noodles and 100,000 litres of clean water to people in isolated areas.

More than 5,020 households in Quang Binh, more than 3,820 in Ha Tinh, more than 5,000 in Quang Tri and 550 in Thua Thien-Hue have been relocated to higher regions.

Ha Tinh Province's Preventive Medicine Centre Director Nguyen Van Hien said that thousands of local residents were facing the threat of epidemics, such as diarrhoea, dengue fever and skin diseases. To combat this threat, the centre supplied 200kg and 40,000 tablets of Chloramine B among other drugs to the three worst-hit districts: Huong Khe, Vu Quang and Duc Tho.

The provincial report showed that 31 health clinics were submerged and many medical tools were destroyed. The loss was initially estimated to reach more than VND5 billion (US$255,000).

Thua Thien Hue Province's Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control said 39 landslides along Ho Chi Minh Road have been cleared. The flash flood destroyed 49km of roads, hiking the traffic sector's total loss up to at least VND19 billion ($969,000).

The National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Center said the water levels at Ho Ho Hydroelectricity Dam and the rivers from Ha Tinh to Quang Binh provinces were receding slowly.

On Tuesday, HCM City People's Committee provided VND3.5 billion ($178,500) to five heavily-affected provinces. The Viet Nam Red Cross also provided financial support and a range of goods valued at VND2.2 billion ($112,200) for these five provinces. — VNS

New tool helps measure family planning effects

HA NOI — The Marie Stopes International Viet Nam (MSI) plans to share a measurement tool for family planning programmes with Government agencies following its pilot use within MSI clinics, according to MSI country representative Nguyen Thi Bich Hang at the 2010 Asia-Pacific regional research workshop held in central coastal Nha Trang City.

This three-day workshop, which wraps up today, was part of the MSI Research & Metrics Team's on-going research on sexual and reproductive health and family planning in the Asia-Pacific Region.

She said this tool helps to evaluate family planning performance and can, consequently, give clear evidence for policymakers to establish long-term policies.

The Impact Calculator can translate this set of data to show that nearly US$17,000 had been saved and nearly 68,000 abortion cases had been averted.

This tool has been made available for use in more than 40 countries worldwide. — VNS

Central Vietnam floods kill 48

Hands held high from a broken roof to signal for help in Quang Binh province

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Torrential rains and flash floods in the central region have killed 48 people and left 18 others missing as of Wednesday, according to the National Rescue Committee.

Heavy rains from October 1 flooded rivers and inundated tens of thousands of houses in five provinces from Nghe An to Thua Thien-Hue, a swath of territory starting some 300 kilometers south of Hanoi and stretching south.

So far, Quang Binh province has reported the worst toll with 33 people dead and 14 still missing. Ha Tinh has seven dead and one missing, Nghe An five dead and three missing and Quang Tri three dead.

Several trains and buses were stranded in Quang Binh as many sections of track and parts of Highway One, Vietnam's main north-south artery, were washed away.

Helicopters were ferrying instant noodles and drinking water into mountain communities and the navy had come to the aid of at least one boat in distress.

Nearly 62,000 houses from Quang Tri to Thua Thien-Hue were flooded. More than 5,150 households in low-lying and submerged areas in Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces were relocated to higher ground.

The National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Center said the low pressure, off China's Hainan Island, was about 360km north east of Vietnam's central provinces.

The low, together with a cold spell, would bring heavy rainfall to central provinces from Nghe An to Quang Tri.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent an official message, demanding urgent measures to deal with the disaster.

The Central Committee for Floods Prevention and Control on Wednesday required local authorities to collaborate with the National Rescue Committee to inform offshore fishing vessels about the low pressure to avoid dangerous areas and seek shelter if necessary.

Local authorities were required to take measures to deal with landslides and floods.

The Ministry of Health also urged local health agencies from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan provinces to supply 100,000 tablets of Chloramine B and 100 lifebuoys to flooded areas.

More than 900 border soldiers with 500 lifebuoys, 400 life jackets and 35 tents were mobilized to join the rescue work. More than 1.5 million tons of food, 15,000 packets of instant noodles and 2.5 million liters of water were sent to help people in flood-hit areas.

Ha Tinh Province People's Committee provided VND1 billion (US$51) worth of aid to flood victims. Thousands of people were mobilized to re-open roads and control drainage systems.

As many as 300 soldiers were sent to help evacuate more than 4,000 households in flood-prone areas in Quang Binh. Nearly 2,000 households would be moved to safer places today.

Hanoi People's Committee yesterday said the city's agencies and organizations had donated VND1 billion ($51,000) for the five heavily-affected central provinces.

The Vietnam Red Cross also provided financial support and goods valued at VND820 million ($41,820) for Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces.

Party leader lauds community built by overseas Vietnamese

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (first row, fourth left) receives overseas Vietnamese who returned to the country for the Thang Long-Ha Noi millennial celebrations. —VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Xuan Tuan

HA NOI — Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh spoke highly of the development of the Vietnamese community abroad and their valuable contributions to national construction when meeting representatives of overseas Vietnamese who had returned for the Thang Long-Ha Noi millennial celebrations yesterday.

"The Party, State and people greatly appreciate the patriotism and valuable contributions of overseas Vietnamese," he said.

Manh said he believed overseas Vietnamese would continue their patriotism, strengthen their communities, and join forces to build a thriving Viet Nam.

He stressed that there were both opportunities and challenges facing the country at present so all Vietnamese people, both at home and abroad, must do their utmost for the common cause.

After affirming that overseas Vietnamese are integral to the nation's growth, Manh urged them to make recommendations for the draft documents to be submitted to the 11th National Party Congress as a way to contribute to the goal of fostering a rich people, a strong nation and a democratic, fair and civilised society.

The Party leaders expressed his pleasure that many overseas Vietnamese had successfully invested and done business in Viet Nam, and that a number of artists had organised exhibitions bringing attention to the country.

Representatives said they were delighted to witness Viet Nam's enormous achievements in the doi moi (renewal) process and national construction, citing the ongoing celebrations as evidence.

They thanked the Party and State for their support and promised to contribute more to the development of their home country. — VNS

Fireworks explosion kills four in Hanoi

Four people were killed and three others were injured when a shipment of fireworks exploded on Wednesday near My Dinh National Stadium, one of 29 sites in the capital where firework showcases are planned for Hanoi’s 1,000th birthday celebrations.

Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Duc Nhanh, deputy head of the Security General Department II and director of the Hanoi Police Department, said it was a regrettable accident but would not affect work to ensure security for the capital city’s celebrations.

The reason for the blast was due to the carelessness during the transportation of the two containers of fireworks which were imported by Hanoi-based International Investment Trade and Service Company (Interserco) to be used in firework displays at the My Dinh Stadium on Sunday, he said.

Right after the accident, eight vehicles arrived at the site to extinguish fires, protect and examine the scene as well as take injured people to hospital.

Xinhua news agency quoted an unnamed Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security official as saying the four victims are two Germans, one Singaporean and one Vietnamese.

The fireworks are to be displayed for the 1,000th anniversary celebration of Hanoi on Sunday, the official told Xinhua over the phone.

The three foreigners were experts who participate in the firework display work, said the official.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Health officials issue dengue fever warning

Preventing the multiplication of mosquito larvae is key to controlling the spread of dengue fever, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health reiterated at a workshop Wednesday.

Department officials expressed concern that the incidence of the fever had risen over the last several months and several localities were not taking preventive measures in a timely and effective manner.

Le Truong Giang, deputy head of the department, said that the preventive health centers in city districts had to guide grassroots administrations in spraying chemicals to kill mosquitoes and prevent their larvae from multiplying.

Companies, schools, offices, public spaces and residential areas were still to focus adequately on these tasks, he said.

The city would spray chemicals three times this month, he said, adding local authorities should encourage residents to implement preventive measures at least once a week.

The city's Preventive Medicine Center has said that the number of patients with fever dengue has steadily increased over the last three months.

From 633 patients in July, the number increased to 1,133 in August and 1,624 in September.

As many as 166 out of 322 communes and wards, or almost 50 percent, have recorded increasing number dengue fever patients, accounting for 80 percent of the city's total.

In September alone, the number of dengue patients rose by more than 400 each week.

Nguyen Dac Tho, deputy head of the city's Preventive Medicine Centre, said the number would continue to increase as timely steps were not taken.

Measles vaccinations

Tho also announced at the workshop a plan on vaccinating children for measles.

Under the plan, nearly 600,000 children between one and six years old will be vaccinated next month.

The department will co-operate with the Department of Education and Training to vaccinate children at schools from November 1-25.

There are an estimated 400,000 school-age children in the city. Children not of school-going age will get their measles shots at health clinics in their communes and wards.

Tho asked preventive medicine centers at districts as well as at communes and wards to ensure residents are aware of the measles vaccination program so that it is implemented effectively.

Group grants heritage listing to mango trees

Photo: VnExpress

Nine centuries-old bachang mango or Mangifera foetida trees have been recognized as Vietnam’s Heritage Trees by the Vietnam Association for Nature and Environment.

These trees are located in Hanoi's Voi Phuc Temple of Thuy Chuong Village in Thuy Khue Ward of Tay Ho District. Nguyen Van Tung, 77, head of the management board of the Voi Phuc Temple, told a story of a group of Japanese researchers who, in 1999, asked him to help determine the age of the mango trees.

"After investigating, measuring and using tools to drill holes in the trees, it was concluded that the trees were between 700-1,000 years old," Tung said.

The Voi Phuc Temple, completed in 1077, was built on Thuy Khue Street in honor of Prince Linh Lang, who sacrificed himself during a fight against foreign invaders. In memory of the prince locals planted nine mango trees around the temple to create a fresh and cool place for worshippers to pray, said Tung.

"Locals chose to plant mango trees because they are known to be strong, have a long life-expectancy and boast large branches," said Tung.

Thuy Chuong villagers pledged to join hands in preserving the rare trees by not building near them, cutting them down, or damaging them in any way.

Nguyen Nguyen Cuong, director of the centre for Education and Communications and Environment under the Vietnam Unions for Science and Technology, who is also the head of a project that protects old trees in Hanoi, said these trees are valuable Vietnamese assets.

"Since 2008 our researchers have investigated and created a map of the oldest trees in Hanoi," Cuong told Viet Nam News.

Eye care program to reach out to 50,000

Nearly 50,000 people will be given free eye checks, consultancy and surgery in the largest charity vision program to be held on World Sight Day on October 14 in Hanoi.

The program, organized by the Hanoi Eye Hospital and the Fred Hollow Foundation, will run in Hanoi until the end of October.

Teams of eye doctors will travel to outlying districts and schools to provide eye examinations and cataract operations.

An estimated 9,000 people aged over 50 in the districts of Soc Son, Ba Vi and Thanh Tri will benefit from the program.

An additional 25,000 students at 54 primary and secondary schools in Dong Anh District and 1,000 others in Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung inner districts will also receive eye care.

Last month, the program provided check-ups to more than 13,000 people, mostly elderly and students.

"Blindness prevention is the responsibility of the community and society. On this occasion, we call on volunteers to be involved in blindness prevention," said Vu Thi Thanh, the hospital's director.

According to health sector statistics, there are about 2 million blind people in the country. Two thirds of these cannot afford treatment or do not know they could have their vision restored. The main causes of blindness are cataracts (66 percent), glaucoma (6.5 percent), refraction deformation and trachoma.

There are about 33,000 blind people in Hanoi, 0.5 percent of the country's population. An estimated 30 percent of these are treatable.

Relief aids come to central flood victims

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung on Wednesday sent a dispatch ordering central Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue provinces to bring forward the local budgets to buy instant noodles and drinks for flood-hit residents.

He said Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces need 50 tons of instant noodles and 50,000 liters of water each and Thua Thien-Hue province should be supplied with 10 tons of instant noodles.

He also asked the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control to work with the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Investment and the Government Office help the provinces pay back the money and overcome the consequences of the floods.

The same day, President of Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) Tran Ngoc Tang called on organizations and individuals nationwide to help the victims of the floods. The campaign will last until November 15, 2010.

In response to a call of VRC Central Committee, the teachers, staff and students of Hanoi National University ’s Social Science and Humanities school donated VND35 million, the US organization the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) contributed US$15,000 and the Charity Elderly Center, 100 boxes of instant noodles.

The VRCCC also decided to provide the five central flood-hit provinces with more relief aid worth VND2.2 billion.

Quang Binh and Ha Tinh province will be each provided with 1,000 boxes of supplies (including blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils and other essential appliances), 50 tents and VND150 million.

Meanwhile, Quang Tri will receive 600 boxes of goods and VND50 million and Nghe An and Thua Thien-Hue, will be handed 400 boxes of goods and VND50 million each.

Torrential rain and flash floods in the central region had killed 48 people and left 10 others missing, reported the Central Committee for Floods Prevention and Control.

Floods also submerged thousands hectares of houses, rice and industrial crops and damaged traffic, power and other infrastructural facilities.

NA Chairman cuts inaugural ribbon at Hanoi Museum

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong cut the ribbon to inaugurate Hanoi Museum on Oct. 6.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman Trong said Hanoi was the crystallised focus of Vietnamese culture with a history of thousand years, from Loa Thanh-Co Loa citadel 2,300 years ago.

He said that during 23 centuries, history followed by history, tradition followed by tradition, the capital city has many historical and cultural works and now Hanoi Museum is home for over 50,000 objects which showcase to visitors Hanoi and the daily lives of people’s ancestors.

Construction of Hanoi Museum stared in May, 2008 on an area of nearly 54,000 sq.m and with a total investment capital of 2.3 trillion VND (121 million USD).

The museum has four storeys and a two-storey basement and was built in the shape of an inverted pyramid.

Following the opening ceremony, an exhibition of photos of Hanoi in the old days and another exhibition of ornamental trees and ancient artefacts were opened to visitors at the museum.

The exhibition will run until Jan. 6, 2011, except Mondays./.

More relief aid for central flood victims

On October 6 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung sent a dispatch ordering central Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue provinces to bring forward the local budgets to buy instant noodles and drinks for flood-hit residents.

He said Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces need 50 tonnes of instant noodles and 50,000 litres of water each and Thua Thien-Hue province should be supplied with 10 tonnes of instant noodles.

Also on October 6, President of Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) Tran Ngoc Tang called on organisations and individuals nationwide to help the victims of the floods. The campaign will last until November 15, 2010.

In response to a call of VRC Central Committee, the teachers, staff and students of Hanoi National University ’s Social Science and Humanities school donated 35 million VND, the US organisation the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) contributed 15,000 USD and the Charity Elderly Centre, 100 boxes of instant noodles.

The VRCCC also decided to provide the five central flood-hit provinces with more relief aid worth 2.2 billion VND.

Quang Binh and Ha Tinh province will be each provided with 1,000 boxes of supplies (including blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils and other essential appliances), 50 tents and 150 million VND.

Meanwhile, Quang Tri will receive 600 boxes of goods and 50 million VND and Nghe An and Thua Thien-Hue, will be handed 400 boxes of goods and 50 million VND each.

By 15h of Oct. 6, torrential rain and flash floods in the central region had killed 29 people and left six missing and nine injured, reported the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control.

Floods also submerged thousands hectares of houses, rice and industrial crops and damaged traffic, power and other infrastructural facilities./.

Troubled shipbuilder names new chief - again

There has been yet another change at the top at the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, with Truong Van Tuyen taking over as general director from acting chief Nguyen Quoc Anh.

Tuyen, 60, is a former general director of the state-owned Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and the current head of the Dung Quat oil refinery.

Anh had taken over from Tran Quang Vu August 30 after the latter was suspended and then arrested on charges of mismanaging state assets while serving as the head of a Vinashin subsidiary in the early 2000s.

Vu himself had only been appointed July 1 in place of Vinashin's founding director Pham Thanh Binh who had been arrested on similar charges.

A government audit had found the company having debts of US$4.5 billion.

Police have so far arrested six Vinashin officials, including the two former chief executives.

Last month the government ordered commercial banks to suspend Vinashin's debt repayments and gave the company an estimated $130 million to complete its shipbuilding orders and ensure their delivery this year.

Early detection of hearing defects

A nurse cares for a premature infant at the Thanh Hoa Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in the northern province of Thanh Hoa. — VNA/VNS Photo Duong Ngoc

HA NOI — The National Obstetrics Hospital will check new-born babies for hearing impairments under a trial programme to begin this month, according to Dr Nguyen Cong Nghia, head of the hospital's Research and Training Division.

Nghia said the scans to detect hearing defects would be reviewed for wider application after one month. This type of service has already been available.

He said hearing-impairments occurred in up to 2 out of every 100 new-born babies.

"The scans will help check the hearing of new-born babies and ensure timely treatment if any hearing impairments are discovered," he said.

The scans should be carried out no later than three days after a baby's birth, while preventative procedures should be carried out in the first six months. Nghia said hearing impairments found in children who are two years old or older are a lot more difficult to correct.

Viet Nam has about 500,000 people suffering from hearing impairments, with the rate among children reaching as high as 5 per cent. There are no official figures on the rate among new-borns, Nghia said.

The causes of hearing impairment in new-borns are thought to include complications during pregnancy and genetics.

"Scans should be carried out for all new-born babies," said Nghia.

The scanning process would cause no pain to the child or any side effects. If there are signs of a hearing impairment, medical experts will give a detailed diagnosis and offer treatment alternatives.

The cost of a scan, yet to be set, should be between VND100,000 to VND120,000 (US$5-6).

Nghia said the hospital would also set up a hot-line for concerned parents to provide consultancy and answers to questions relating to the scanning programme. —VNS

Central floods kill 14

Residents travel by boat after floods strike the central province of Ha Tinh. — VNA/VNS Photo Cong Tuong

HA NOI — Torrential rain and flash floods in the central region left at least14 dead, with five missing and four injured.

Nearly 62,000 houses from Quang Tri to Thua Thien-Hue Province were flooded. More than 5,150 households in low-lying and submerged areas in Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces were relocated to higher ground.

The National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Centre said the low pressure, off China's Hainan Island, was about 360km north east of Viet Nam's central provinces.

The low, together with a cold spell, would bring heavy rainfall to central provinces from Nghe An to Quang Tri.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister sent an official meesage, demanding urgent measures to deal with the disaster.

The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control yesterday required local authorities to collaborate with the Search and Rescue Committee, to inform offshore fishing vessels about the low pressure to avoid dangerous areas and seek shelter if necessary.

Local authorities were required to take measures to deal with landslides and floods.

The Ministry of Health also urged local health agencies from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan provinces to supply 100,000 tablets of Chloramine B and 100 lifebuoys to flooded areas.

More than 900 border soldiers with 500 lifebuoys, 400 life jackets and 35 tents were mobilised to join the rescue work. More than 1.5 million tonnes of food,15,000 packets of instant noodles and 2.5 million litres of water were sent to help people in flood-hit areas.

Ha Tinh Province People's Committee provided VND1 billion (US$51) worth of aid to flood victims. Thousands of people were mobilised to re-open roads and control drainage systems.

As many as 300 soldiers were sent to help evacuate more than 4,000 households in flood-prone areas in Quang Binh Province. Nearly 2,000 households would be moved to safer places today.

Ha Noi People's Committee yesterday said the city's agencies and organisations had donated VND1 billion ($51,000) for the five heavily-affected central provinces.

The Viet Nam Red Cross also provided financial support and goods valued at VND820 million ($41,820) for Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces. — VNS

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Vitamin D overdoses put more children in hospital

HCM CITY — Increasing numbers of children are being admitted to hospitals in HCM City because of excessive ingestion of vitamin D supplements.

The HCM City Paediatric Hospital No1 this week admitted one child who experienced convulsions after drinking a liquid vitamin-D supplement.

The child had the same symptoms as encephalitis, doctors said.

His mother gave him the vitamin-D supplement, hoping it would help increase his height and maintain healthy bones.

Dr Bach Van Cam of the hospital said many mothers were buying the vitamin drinks.

However, in tropical climates such as Viet Nam, where sunlight is abundant, vitamin D shortages are not common. The sun is an excellent source of vitamin D.

Too much vitamin-D supplement could lead to a loss of appetite and convulsions, doctors have said.

The HCM City Nutrition Centre said it treated nearly 125,000 children per year for malnutrition, eating disorders and obesity.

In drugstores, many vitamin supplements sell at cheap prices that families can afford.

Dr Do Thi Ngoc Diep, deputy head of the city's Nutrition Centre, warned that abuse of vitamins could lead to physical disorders.

Drinking a lot of vitamin A, for example, could lead to shock, vomiting, or damage to red blood cells, the latter leading to anaemia.

According to Diep, breastfeeding children under six months old is sufficient to supply the necessary nutrients.

For children between six months and three years old, the healthcare sector creates a Vitamin A Supplement Programme to help prevent dry eyes, and respiratory and digestive infections.

"If a child has a proper diet, a vitamin shortage will not occur," Diep added.

Parents should provide the proper nutrition for children, and supplement the diet with vitamins only when necessary, Cam said. — VNS

Central floods claim 28 lives

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Torrential rains brought floods and landslides to the country's central region, killing at least 28 and leaving seven still missing.

A helicopter on Tuesday arrived at Quang Binh province to distributed one ton of instant noodles to local residents stuck in the submerged areas.

The floods have destroyed thousands of hectares of rice fields and isolated thousands of households.

The latest figures from the central region show that 12 people have been killed in Quang Binh province, seven in Ha Tinh, six in Nghe An, and three in Quang Tri. Nine more people were injured and seven remain missing.

The National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Center said rivers from Quang Tri to Thua Thien-Hue provinces would continue to rise. The water levels in Quang Binh Province's rivers had reached their peaks and were receding slowly.

Meteorologists warned of possible flash floods and landslides in submerged and low-lying areas from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien-Hue.

Director of the center Bui Minh Tang said a low pressure, which had slowly moved west-northwest, was likely to increase in the next few days and would continue to bring heavy rainfall to the region. Heavy downpours were forecast from Nghe An to Quang Tri and a cold spell was likely to occur in northern provinces in the upcoming days.

Reports from Quang Binh Province said the water level at Ho Ho Hydroelectricity Dam in Tuyen Hoa District was 1m over its peak and at risk of breaching the dam.

Chief of the secretariat of the district People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Tan said the committee had requested permission to drain some of the excess water to minimize the dam breach.

The floods submerged around 8,000 houses, 1,000 of which by more than 1m deep. Five houses collapsed and 80 per cent of schools and agencies in the area were underwater.

Heavy downpours blocked roads in many areas and isolated Tuyen Hoa, Minh Hoa, Le Thuy and Quang Ninh districts.

More than 370 households located on the flood plain had been relocated.

In Ha Tinh Province, hundreds of soldiers were sent to help evacuate nearly 2,000 households from low-lying areas with orders to pack food for at least eight days.

As many as 18 landslides along Highway No8A had occurred, blocking traffic and drainage systems in Huong Son District for hours.

Nearly 100 workers were mobilised to clear the roads and keep watch around the clock to ensure people's safety.

In Quang Tri Province, heavy rainfall destroyed 36 houses, seriously damaged two drainage systems and blocked main roads including Highway No9 and Ho Chi Minh Road.

More than 1,000ha of subsidiary crops in Thua Thien-Hue Province were swept away and hundreds of hectares of aquaculture breeding facilities flooded.

About 20,000 people may have to be evacuated from the flood-prone areas if the torrential rains do not stop in the next few days. Currently, more than 3,000 houses are submerged.

At least five fishing vessels have sunk and three fishermen are missing due to heavy rainfall and strong winds in Nghe An Province.

The Central Steering Committee for Floods and Storms told localities to re-examine residential areas in low-lying areas and relocate them if necessary. It also asked the provinces to take control on flooded roads and instruct road users and vehicles.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was requested to promptly take measures on the Ho Ho Dam to ensure the safety of surrounding households.

Coral poachers face fines

Perpetrators of illegal coral exploitation in protected areas in central Danang City's Son Tra peninsula will be fined up to VND10 million (US$512).

The deputy head of Son Tra Peninsula Management Board, Phan Xuan Tiep, said the severe punishments are intended to protect the coral and the ecosystem in that area that has been threatened by illegal activities.

"Last September, we cast 62 floats with a length of over 9,000 metres to zone five protection areas including Hon Sup, Bai But, Huc Lo-Vung Da, Bai Nom and Bai Bac to prevent people from exploiting coral in the peninsula as well as to serve tourist activities," Tiep said.

He added that the coral protection plan was approved by the city People's Committee.

The first phase of the plan, which began in 2009 and is expected to continue through 2012, has been casting floats, carrying out dissemination and training as well as establishing investigation teams to protect aquatic resources.

The second phase, to be carried out from 2013 to 2015, will work to restore the natural effectiveness of the coral that continues to protect 26,2 hectares of 72 valuable seaweed species at Mui Sung, Tay Hon Sup, Vung Cay Bang, Lang Van, Bai San and Mui Nhoi and 10 hectares of sea grass in the Bai Nom area.

"The number of violations has decreased since Decree 31 on coral protection promulgated in June," he said, adding that they have yet to impose the maximum fine.

The coral ecosystems in the peninsula are said to be some of the largest and most significant areas of biological diversity in Vietnam.

The peninsula is home to 191 species of stiff coral, three species of soft coral, three species of seaweed, 72 species of algae, 53 species of invertebrates and 221 fugitive floral species among others.

Outlook enjoys the party

As Ha Noi's millennium anniversary celebrations wind down, this month's issue of our news magazine Outlook joins in the capital city's big birthday party.

Outlook, which goes on sale in Ha Noi, HCM City and other major centres this morning, examines the history of Ha Noi and spotlights some of the local people who embody the city's culture and character.

We examine the treasure trove of artefacts unearthed at the site of the capital city's ancient Imperial Citadel and tell the story of King Ly Thai To, who decided to move his royal capital from Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh Province to Dai La, the site of present-day Ha Noi and renamed it Thang Long (Rising Dragon).

We talk to four outstanding Hanoians who have been recognised by the Government for their contributions to the local community, and meet a family who have lived in the city for several generations while preserving their traditional values. Special features on Ha Noi also include an article about the capital city's favourite mayor and a photo essay on the city's changing face during the past two centuries.

Elsewhere in this issue, we go on a tour of the Central Highlands, meet a naval soldier stationed on one of Viet Nam's most remote islands and visit one of HCM City's best shoemakers.

Readers can also catch up on what's hot in the country's culinary, sports and arts scenes - and check out our listings for everything from bars to embassies. Outlook retails for VND15,000 at news-stands, major hotels and restaurants, at the head office of the Viet Nam News at 11 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi, or at our HCM City office at 120 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. — VNS

Germany funds Vietnam’s agriculture

Representatives from the German government have presented gifts worth 11,000 euros to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The German government’s gifts, including a mobile clean-water filter and a mobile classroom for forestry farmers, were handed over in Hanoi on Tuesday by Vice Governor of Hessen state Joerg Uwe Hahn and German Ambassador to Vietnam Rolf Schulz to representatives from the Ministry.

The mobile classroom will be passed on to Huu Lung College in the northern province of Lang Son to help implement farmer training program, said Deputy MARD Minister Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu.

The clean-water filter will be transferred to the central region where people are suffering from heavy flooding.

Vietnam and Germany have seen effective cooperation in different areas, including reforestation, sustainable forest management and development, conservation of forest ecological system biodiversity and mangrove protection in response to climate change.

Cooperation in forestry was always given priority by the German government and is its strongest area of cooperation in Asia, German Ambassador Rolf Schultz said.

Cornea donation campaign launched in Danang

A meeting was held in the central city of Danang on Tuesday to mark World Day of Vision (Oct. 11) and launch a campaign to encourage local people to donate corneas.

The drive, initiated by the Vietnam Red Cross and Orbis International in Vietnam, will be carried out in the city’s seven districts by 285 volunteers.

It aims to raise public awareness of cornea-related diseases and the significance of cornea donation, and call upon people to register for donation.

The campaign in Vietnam is being carried out on trial in 10 cities and provinces. Nearly 3,200 Red Cross volunteers are joining the drive to spread information about the cornea-related blind disease and encourage people to donate corneas after death.

More than 30,000 people have so far registered.

Vietnam now has over 300,000 blind people who are awaiting cornea transplantation operations but availability is still limited.

Since 2004, Orbis International has been assisting Vietnam to promote eye care and treatment for people and the organization has become the biggest cornea supplier to Vietnam with some 100 corneas each year.

From 2010, the Central Eye Hospital Eye Bank, supported by Orbis, will receive 330 corneas from local voluntary donors annually.

Netherlands presents new tulip species to Hanoi

Netherlands Prime Minister Peter Balkenende (R) presents the tulips to Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung on the sidelines of ASEAM 8 meeting in Brussels on October 4, 2010

Photo: VNA

The Netherlands Government on Tuesday presented the capital city of Hanoi with a new species of tulip named after Thang Long-Hanoi, as a special gift to mark the city’s 1,000th anniversary.

At the presentation ceremony, Netherlands Ambassador to Vietnam Joop Scheffers said the new tulip strain was created by Dutch biologists.

The tulip has tone values of red and yellow, the two colors of Vietnam’s national flag.

The ambassador said the gift was a symbol of the fine traditional relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam and the Netherlands would soon transfer the technology to grow this tulip species to Hanoi.

On behalf of Hanoi authorities and people, vice chairwoman of the Municipal People’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang affirmed that the gift was significant and precious.

She said together with the fine cooperation between the countries, the two capital cities – Hanoi and Amsterdam – also enjoyed effective cooperation and exchanges during past years.

She took this occasion to present the Dutch Ambassador with two of the latest pictorial books on Thang Long-Hanoi.

Commuters say no to buses in Vietnam metro

Commuters say no to buses in Vietnam metro Rundown buses and faciliites as well as bad service is seeing public transportation deteriorate in Ho Chi Minh City despite increasing subsidies, the Saigon Tiep Thi reports.

Several dozen bus routes are operating inefficienty because of decreasing number of passengers, said Phung Dang Hai, director general of HCMC Transport Co-operative, which operates one-third of the local buses.

In fact, in the first nine months of this year, the co-operative has experienced a 10 percent decline in the number of passengers over last year, Hai said in the news source.

The decrease is “considerable”, although subsidies were raised to VND700 billion (US$35.9 million) from VND600 billion ($30.8 million) last year, Hai said.

The Saigon Tiep Thi reports that the staff's poor attitude towards passengers, the lack of safety, broken air-conditioning systems and other degraded facilities are discouraging people from opting to take a bus.

Reckless driving, including not slowing down while driving over potholes, and the disregard for passenger comfort was blatant, it reports.

“[…] it’s like torture; no one can stand it,” Hoang Vy, a student of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities told the paper. Vy used to take the popular route No.50 to school every day but now she only turns to it when she has no other choice, she said.

The same situation has been reported at other routes of high quality, and it was even worse at normal routes with bad-looking busses, according to the newspaper.

Driver Van T. Dung said that passengers using his bus has reduced sharply over the last few months. He said the buses were not in good condition.

Most local buses have run for nearly ten years and are in need of major maintenance, Hai said, adding that nearly 20 percent of his cooperative’s fleet of more than 800 buses are in the same situation.

The general director said although buses are subsidized, current subsidies aren’t sufficient for companies already mired in debt.

It was almost impossible to set aside money for re-investment when buses are damaged, he said.

He also blamed the HCMC Center of Public Passenger Transport Vehicles, which still owes businesses a total of VND30 billion ($1.54 million) in subsidies for last year’s inflation.

If the center had given them the money right from the beginning of this year, the cooperative’s members would have been able to upgrade buses, and prevented the current situation.

Hai suggested authorities force businesses to set aside part of subsidies for maintenance and repairs and allow them to access loans at preferential interest rates..

However, the HCMC Department of Transport has blamed the transportation companies, saying subsidies approved by the city authorities already included repair and maintenance fees as regulated..

Father, son repeatedly rape girl

Police in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on Sunday arrested a father and son for repeatedly raping a 14-year-old girl over the last six years.

In September, doctors discovered the ninth grader was 25 weeks pregnant when she showed up to receive a tetanus vaccination at school. She was underage and didn't receive proper pregnancy care, so the belly wouldn't grow signficantly.

According to police, Nguyen Van Minh, 59, used to rape the girl at her house when her parents were away. Minh told the girl not to tell anyone, making the girl think that it would be embarassing for her.

Minh repeatedly raped the girl until his daughter-in-law, Le Thi Soan, found out and told her husband, Nguyen Van Trung, 31.

Trung immediately tried to rape the girl at her house but failed to force her into it. Then, one day in February, the girl came to his house to borrow some spices. Trung raped her after threatening to tell everyone that she had intercourse with his father.

Minh and Trung have been charged with “child rape”.

In Vietnam, individuals convicted of raping a minor are likely to face life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Father, son repeatedly rape girl

Police in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on Sunday arrested a father and son for repeatedly raping a 14-year-old girl over the last six years.

Minh repeatedly raped the girl until his daughter-in-law, Le Thi Soan, found out and told her husband, Nguyen Van Trung, 31.

Minh and Trung have been charged with “child rape”.

In Vietnam, individuals convicted of raping a minor are likely to face life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Slaves found in central highlands forest

Slaves found in central highlands forest Police in the central highlands province of Quang Nam on Monday said they freed 32 people who had been enslaved for six months.

Vietnamnet reported that the people, all of whom belong to the Bhnoong ethnic minority group, were recruited to grow acacias in Dak Nong Province in April.

One of the victims, Ho Van Chan, said the recruiter, Do Ngoc Lan, 44, promised to pay each of them VND1.8-2.1 million (US$92.4-107.8) a month and provide them with three meals a day.

However, they didn’t receive any pay for months and were forced to engage in heavy manual labor without proper meals, Ho Thi Bong, another victim, said.

They worked in a forest in Dak R’mang and couldn’t contact their families or leave, the victims said.

The laborers were discovered when Phuoc Son District police received reports from families and sent out a search party.

Vietnamnet reported that Ho Van Chuong, one of the victims, died from malaria Friday, prompting Lan to flee. He was later caught.

Lan said he and his wife, 45-year-old Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, were contracted to recruit workers for Dak Lak Paper Materials Factory, the news source reported.

The married couple comes from Kon Tum province and didn’t know much about Quang Nam. They asked Ho Van Xia, chief of Hamlet No.4 in Phuoc Chanh Commune to introduce them to local laborers.

Xia was paid VND100,000 ($5.13) for each worker he introduced to Lan.

Investigations are ongoing.

Netherlands presents new tulip to Hanoi

The Netherlands Government on Oct. 5 presented the capital city of Hanoi with a new species of tulip named after Thang Long-Hanoi, as a special gift to mark the city’s 1,000th anniversary.

At the presentation ceremony, Netherlands Ambassador to Vietnam Joop Scheffers said the new tulip strain was created by Dutch biologists.

The tulip has tone values of red and yellow, the two colours of Vietnam’s national flag.

On behalf of Hanoi authorities and people, Vice Chairperson of the Municipal People’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang affirmed that the gift was significant and precious.

She said together with the fine cooperation between the countries, the two capital cities – Hanoi and Amsterdam – also enjoyed effective cooperation and exchanges during past years.

She took this occasion to present the Dutch Ambassador with two of the latest pictorial books on Thang Long-Hanoi./.

President unveils enormous statue

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Hands held high from a broken roof to signal for help in Quang Binh province

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Friday, November 5, 2010

Related Articles

Photo: VnExpress

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Related Articles

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Netherlands Prime Minister Peter Balkenende (R) presents the tulips to Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung on the sidelines of ASEAM 8 meeting in Brussels on October 4, 2010

Photo: VNA

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Related Articles

Related Articles

Related Articles