23:15' 04/05/2008 (GMT+7)
Customers buy food in a fast-food store on Hai Ba Trung Street in HCM City.
Food advertisements are leading children to potentially dangerous diseases, warns Viet Nam Association for Standardisation and the Protection of Consumers deputy chairman Do Gia Phan.
Children prefer foods that contain too much sugar, salt and fat, for no other reason than they like the advertising, he says.
The result is they have energy but are malnourished.
The State should ban products that too easily make people fat, he argues.
Nutrition Institute Communication Centre director ,Dr Hoang Kim Thanh, says that not one single food contains sufficient nutrition.
This means that eating too much of one type of food will lead to obesity and the possibility of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Even dairy produce, such as milk and cheese, which are said to be good for children, can cause obesity and harm the liver and kidneys if they are over consumed because of their high protein content.
Figures show obesity is rising in urban Viet Nam.
For example, in HCM City, about 6 per cent of children under five and 23 per cent of primary-school children are overweight.
One 11-year-old has set a record at 79 kg.
Children don’t have enough knowledge to know what is good for them and are often attracted by advertisements, says Dr Thanh.
"Why don’t you let me eat cheese which helps me grow taller." a mother quotes her son 7, as saying.
Attracted by an amusing advertisement, the boy became addicted to cheese.
His mother says she bought cheese for him when he was an infant because it provides calcium and other nourishment, but he refused to eat it.
It was only after watching an amusing advertisement that he changed his mind.
Not only television but newspapers, magazines and leaflets entice children to food. Dairy, beverage and fast-food companies deliver their produce to supermarkets, schools and kindergartens for children to sample.
Children drink milk to collect the games that are offered with the product.
One five-year-old child weighs 32 kg.
"She eats only a half bowl of rice at a meal but still gets fat because she consumes the snacks, cake, chips and sausage that are advertised on television," complains her mother.
New regulations
The International Customer Service Association has proposed regulations to govern the advertising of food and beverage - without alcohol - for children.
The proposal is now awaiting World Health Organisation approval.
In the meantime, Dr Pham Thanh Tuyen advises parents to control advertising that might influence their children.
"Parents can limit the times that children watch food advertisements by having them participate in other activities," the physician says.
And they shouldn’t spoil children by buying them all the food they want.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Body of drowned US tourist found in Sapa
06:03' 05/05/2008 (GMT+7)
Three divers from northern coastal Quang Ninh province on May 4 noon found the body of a US tourist who drowned in Ca Nhay water fall two days ago in Ban Ho village, Sa Pa district of northern Lao Cai province.
An official from Ban Ho village, Dao Van Son, said that the body of Cottr Hnolivev was found about five metres under the rock’s chink, not far from the site where he swam and fell into a whirlpool on the afternoon of May 2. He was touring the village with two other visitors, an American and a British, and two Vietnamese guides.
The local rescue forces could not find his body as they lack special diving equipment, so divers had to be sent in from Quang Ninh.
Ca Nhay Fall in Ban Ho is a beautiful place located at the foot of Hoang Lien Son mountain. There are many deep caves and whirlpools in the area.
This is the first accident for foreign visitors at the tourist spot. Earlier, two Vietnamese were drowned when they were swimming under the fall.
Three divers from northern coastal Quang Ninh province on May 4 noon found the body of a US tourist who drowned in Ca Nhay water fall two days ago in Ban Ho village, Sa Pa district of northern Lao Cai province.
An official from Ban Ho village, Dao Van Son, said that the body of Cottr Hnolivev was found about five metres under the rock’s chink, not far from the site where he swam and fell into a whirlpool on the afternoon of May 2. He was touring the village with two other visitors, an American and a British, and two Vietnamese guides.
The local rescue forces could not find his body as they lack special diving equipment, so divers had to be sent in from Quang Ninh.
Ca Nhay Fall in Ban Ho is a beautiful place located at the foot of Hoang Lien Son mountain. There are many deep caves and whirlpools in the area.
This is the first accident for foreign visitors at the tourist spot. Earlier, two Vietnamese were drowned when they were swimming under the fall.
SOCIAL IN BRIEF 4/5
23:56' 04/05/2008 (GMT+7)
Heavy rains flood streets in HCM City
Heavy rains flooded many streets in Ho Chi Minh City, causing traffic jam and environmental pollution.
An hour heavy rain on May 2 flooded many streets, including Hong Bang in District 5, Minh Phung – Cay Go in District 11, February 2 in Dicstrict 10.
Hung Vuong street in District 6 alone was between 30-40 centrimetres under water, causing traffic jamp.
Hundreds of houses in Ward 7, District 3, were flooded by 40 centimetres. Water receded after three or five hours.
HCM City entrepreneurs donate eye treatment for people in Quang Ngai
VND 100 million was presented by the Entrepreneurs’ Club 2030 in Ho Chi Minh City to Quang Ngai province on May 2 to help eye operation and treatment for 200 poor blind people.
Apart from free operation and treatment, poor patients will get free medicines, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The operation will be implemented by doctors from the Quang Ngai Eye Centre and the Binh Son hospital.
Quang Ngai now has around 3,000 poor blind people, who need support for treatment and operation.
100-bed hospital to be built in Kien Giang province
A 100-bed public hospital will be built in September under the current free clinic in Kien Giang province.
The VND 70 billion public hospital should help expand the clinic’s services to more patients who could otherwise not afford health care, said Tran Lam, head of the clinic and chairman of the province’s Association for Poor Patient Sponsorship.
“The hospital receives money from enterprises nationwide,” Mr Lam said.
The current fourth floor clinic covering 500sq.m provides free examinations and medicines to more than 200 poor patients daily. The clinic will serve as the base for the new hospital.
The clinic recently added one more floor to the building to provide acupuncture services.
Similar to the free clinic, each patient going to the hospital will be provided with free examinations, medicine, food and transportation.
The hospital also plans to bring in modern equipment to ensure the patients receive the best care possible.
Lam noted that the hospital would work to provide services in line with private hospitals.
All doctors and nurses in the hospital will be volunteers.
8,945 ethnic minority households in Yen Bai escape poverty thank to soft loans
As many as 8,945 ethnic minority households in Yen Bai province have escaped poverty thanks to soft loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policy.
The bank has provided VND 138.602 billion for 29,775 ethnic minority households via its network in Yen Bai province.
Concretely, the bank has helped local poor households buy 40,465 horses, buffaloes and cows; more than 2,300 goats; over 72,000 pigs; 256 tonnes of fish, plant 16,566 hectares of forest.
The support was given through over 3,000 savings and loans receiving units in 232 villages.
Gov’t offers financial aid to fishermen
The Ministry of Finance has recently issued guidelines on the Government’s policy to support fishermen.
Any fishermen wanting to buy or build new fishing boats with engines of more than 90 Horse Power (HP), or boats to be used to provide fishing boats, will receive annual support of 70 million VND from now to 2010.
Fishermen can receive a sum of 10 million VND if they want to use more fuel-efficient engines for their boats that have a capacity of 40 to 90 HP each, and 18 million VND for engines with a capacity of more than 90 HP.
The Government will help fishermen pay 30 percent of their insurance fees while seamen will receive 100 percent support for life insurance fees.
Vietnam Red Cross launches humanitarian campaign
The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRC) has launched a campaign marking the 118th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19) and the 145th anniversary of World Red Cross and Crescent Day (May 8).
The campaign is entitled “Each organisation, each individual associated with one humanitarian address”.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Hanoi on May 4, Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan called on all organisations and individuals to take part in the campaign which aims to help disadvantaged people across the nation.
The Vice State President presented gifts to two Hanoi families who were exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin during the American war. The VNRC donated 50 wheelchairs to wounded soldiers and disabled people in Hanoi.
According to the VNRC, the campaign aims to help about 651,000 disadvantaged people in 2008.
The campaign will be launched in Ho Chi Minh City on May 18 with nearly 10,000 people walking in support of AO/dioxin victims and other disabled people.
Nearly 30,000 ethnic minority families given business loans
Some 29,775 ethnic minority families in the northern province of Yen Bai have been given 138.602 billion VND in loans to help their businesses at preferential interest rates.
The money has been used in the breeding industry, to plant 16,566 hectares of forests, and to change outdated methods in agricultural production.
Thanks to the loans, as of the first quarter of 2008, nearly 9,000 ethnic minority families had escaped from poverty.
Global care supports ethnic pupils in Lao cai province
20 ethnic pupils who have overcome many hardships to achieve good results in their studies in the northeastern mountainous province of Lao Cai have received scholarships from the Global Care organization of the Republic of Korea.
On the occasion, their families were also provided with breeding animals worth 20 million VND each.
The Global Care organization has also established a group named “Young talent” to help poor outstanding pupils.
Apart from receiving 300,000 VND per month during school time, fees at university or vocational schools and help in finding a job, the pupils were also presented with clothes and learning aids.
Canada gives aid to control pollution
The Canadian Government has provided Vietnam with a non refundable grant worth 15 million USD to improve the capacity of Vietnamese managers handling industrial-pollution control.
A memorandum of understanding, as part of the Village Project Executive Group (VPEG), was signed on May 2 between Natural Resources and Environment Minister Pham Khoi Nguyen and Canadian ambassador Gabriel Lessard.
The grant will benefit nine cities and provinces – Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, Long An, Quang Ngai, Soc Trang, Ha Tay, Hanoi, Hai Duong and Da Nang in the next five years, starting in 2008.
The Vietnam-Japan friendship association marks its 40th anniversary
The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Ibaragi prefecture, Japan held a ceremony on May 3 to mark its 40th anniversary and the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, the association’s chairman, Shimoyama Toranosuke, highlighted Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in recent years and the Vietnamese government’s cooperation in implementing the association’s activities effectively.
Mr Shimoyama expressed his wish to develop sustainable relations between Japan and Vietnam to ensure a lasting peace, happiness and prosperity in the interests of the two peoples in particular and the world in general.
Professor Furuta Motoo from Tokyo University also delivered a speech giving an overall picture of Vietnam over the past 20 years of Doi Moi (Renewal).
At the Cultural House in Ibaragi prefecture, north of Tokyo, there are many stands displaying photos and newspapers cutting about Vietnam and the relationship between the two countries and the association’s activities in support of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims in recent times.
Vietnamese community in Angola turns towards home country
Many significant activities have been held by the Vietnamese community in Angola to support their compatriots in Vietnam.
As much as US $22,500 was given to the Fund for the Poor, Study Encouragement Fund, Fund for Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, Fund of Community Support, Fund to Build Houses of Gratitude.
About 5,000 Vietnamese expatriates are currently living and working in Angola. Most of them live on small trade, but now they have applied hi-tech in business and work in tourism, hotels, and restaurants.
Notably, an avenue was named after Ho Chi Minh in Luanda, the capital of Angola. That means this African country has deep feelings for the beloved leader of Vietnam and Vietnamese people.
University cements scholarship deal
A five-year cooperation agreement was signed between the HCM City Technology University and the cement manufacturing joint venture company Holcim Vietnam last Friday.
Under the agreement, Holcim will provide scholarships worth VND110 million per year from now until 2013 for top students as well as the disadvantaged struggling to graduate from university.
Holcim will also supply 200 to 300 tonnes of cement per year for Technology students’ activities during their "Green Summer" campaigns to develop remote areas in the country.
Tech University students will be able to take tours of Holcim’s plants and factories or even intern there to familiarise themselves with the industry.
Eighty wedding guests get food poisoning
Ha Tay Province’s Phuc Tho District Preventive Medicine Centre said nearly 80 people were treated on Wednesday evening for vomiting and diarrhoea.
The patients were among 600 people who had attended a wedding party on the morning of the same day.
Eight food samples were tested, as the patients were suspected of suffering from food poisoning.
Three dead in Vung Tau seaside drowning
Three people, including two teenagers, drowned while swimming off the Vung Tau beaches on Wednesday.
At one point in the day the weather and wind direction changed suddenly, overturning the floatation devices of many swimmers and carrying them out to sea.
Forty-six people were rescued over the course of Wednesday and Thursday. However, strong winds and heavy rains prevented the rescue team from saving three of the stranded victims .
Heavy rains in North should help irrigation
The Central Weather Forecast Bureau said the North and North Central regions would experience showers and gales today and tomorrow.
These rains are caused by strong winds and low barometric pressure.
The rains will supply a great amount of water for hydroelectricity reservoirs and irrigation networks.
However, mountainous areas should take precautions against strong winds, hail and landslides.
Three die after binge drinking on wine
Can Tho General Hospital on Thursday said three out of four people who had arrived suffering from wine poisoning died.
The remaining patient was moved to HCM City for further treatment.
The poisoning victims were initially hospitalised on Monday with symptoms of low blood pressure and severe respiratory problems.
Catholic congress in Hai Phong
Catholics in the northern port city of Hai Phong convened their fifth congress from April 28-29 to identify major tasks for the next five years.
At the congress, 137 parishes pledged to uphold patriotic tradition and the emulation movement to firmly advance the city during the process of industrialisation and modernisation.
They agreed to promote the movement to build cultured life in residential areas and strive to fight social evils.
Also on April 29, nearly 200 outstanding Catholics from parishes across central Binh Dinh Province attended their fourth congress.
ICF pays to remove VN girl’s tumour
Doctors successfully removed a 7kg tumour from the face of a Vietnamese girl in Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida in the US, with financial support from the International Children’s Fund (ICF), according to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Mexico.
It’s reported that the tumour first appeared on Lai Thi Dao’s tongue when she was three years old and quickly spread. The tumour, one-third of the girl’s weight, made it difficult for her to eat, speak and move around.
The ICF raised US$107,000 for the girl’s surgery.
Australia gives VN 170 scholarships
The Australian Government will provide 170 scholarships to Vietnamese students for postgraduate study at Australian universities in 2009.
Australia Development Scholarships are given out to students interested in studying business, trade, public policy, law, development research, management, agricultural science and environmental research, public health, English teaching and educational management in universities in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Two dead in bus-truck smash
Two people were killed and 20 others injured when a truck collided head-on with a bus on National Highway 1 in Quang Nam Province early yesterday morning.
The south-bound bus was travelling from Hai Duong when it crashed into the truck at Tam Xuan 2 Commune in Nui Thanh District, police said.
The collision totalled the bus, killing the driver and a passenger, and injured 20 of the 33 passengers on board.
Survivors from the bus said the collision was so severe that many passengers were thrown out of the front window onto the road.
Vice President calls for joint actions for disadvantaged people
Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan has called on mass organisations, individuals and all strata of people to jointly take actions to help disadvantaged people.
The Vice President made the call at a ceremony to launch the campaign “each organisation, each individual helps one humanitarian address”, held by the Vietnam Red Cross Society in Hanoi on May 4.
She said the campaign is a good and practical initiative in response to the 118 th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh and the 145 th anniversary of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day which will fall on May 8.
The campaign aims to bring help to an estimated 651,000 disadvantaged people this year. The assistance ranges from cash donations, capital for business start-up to free medical treatment.
The campaign will later be launched in Ho Chi Minh City on May 18. Around 10,000 people will take part in a march to support Agent Orange victims and disabled people.
Traffic accidents claim over 200 lives during holidays
The week-long holidays from April 25 to May 1 saw 217 traffic accidents occur across the country, killing 207 people and injuring 105 others.
According to the Road and Railway Traffic Police Department, most of the accidents were caused by speeding and traffic law violations.
Major hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City reported that the number of traffic victims with head injuries suddenly increased last week, especially on the two national holidays on April 30 and May 1.
In the period, traffic congestions were seen in many places, especially tourist and entertainment.
Heavy rains flood streets in HCM City
Heavy rains flooded many streets in Ho Chi Minh City, causing traffic jam and environmental pollution.
An hour heavy rain on May 2 flooded many streets, including Hong Bang in District 5, Minh Phung – Cay Go in District 11, February 2 in Dicstrict 10.
Hung Vuong street in District 6 alone was between 30-40 centrimetres under water, causing traffic jamp.
Hundreds of houses in Ward 7, District 3, were flooded by 40 centimetres. Water receded after three or five hours.
HCM City entrepreneurs donate eye treatment for people in Quang Ngai
VND 100 million was presented by the Entrepreneurs’ Club 2030 in Ho Chi Minh City to Quang Ngai province on May 2 to help eye operation and treatment for 200 poor blind people.
Apart from free operation and treatment, poor patients will get free medicines, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The operation will be implemented by doctors from the Quang Ngai Eye Centre and the Binh Son hospital.
Quang Ngai now has around 3,000 poor blind people, who need support for treatment and operation.
100-bed hospital to be built in Kien Giang province
A 100-bed public hospital will be built in September under the current free clinic in Kien Giang province.
The VND 70 billion public hospital should help expand the clinic’s services to more patients who could otherwise not afford health care, said Tran Lam, head of the clinic and chairman of the province’s Association for Poor Patient Sponsorship.
“The hospital receives money from enterprises nationwide,” Mr Lam said.
The current fourth floor clinic covering 500sq.m provides free examinations and medicines to more than 200 poor patients daily. The clinic will serve as the base for the new hospital.
The clinic recently added one more floor to the building to provide acupuncture services.
Similar to the free clinic, each patient going to the hospital will be provided with free examinations, medicine, food and transportation.
The hospital also plans to bring in modern equipment to ensure the patients receive the best care possible.
Lam noted that the hospital would work to provide services in line with private hospitals.
All doctors and nurses in the hospital will be volunteers.
8,945 ethnic minority households in Yen Bai escape poverty thank to soft loans
As many as 8,945 ethnic minority households in Yen Bai province have escaped poverty thanks to soft loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policy.
The bank has provided VND 138.602 billion for 29,775 ethnic minority households via its network in Yen Bai province.
Concretely, the bank has helped local poor households buy 40,465 horses, buffaloes and cows; more than 2,300 goats; over 72,000 pigs; 256 tonnes of fish, plant 16,566 hectares of forest.
The support was given through over 3,000 savings and loans receiving units in 232 villages.
Gov’t offers financial aid to fishermen
The Ministry of Finance has recently issued guidelines on the Government’s policy to support fishermen.
Any fishermen wanting to buy or build new fishing boats with engines of more than 90 Horse Power (HP), or boats to be used to provide fishing boats, will receive annual support of 70 million VND from now to 2010.
Fishermen can receive a sum of 10 million VND if they want to use more fuel-efficient engines for their boats that have a capacity of 40 to 90 HP each, and 18 million VND for engines with a capacity of more than 90 HP.
The Government will help fishermen pay 30 percent of their insurance fees while seamen will receive 100 percent support for life insurance fees.
Vietnam Red Cross launches humanitarian campaign
The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRC) has launched a campaign marking the 118th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19) and the 145th anniversary of World Red Cross and Crescent Day (May 8).
The campaign is entitled “Each organisation, each individual associated with one humanitarian address”.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Hanoi on May 4, Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan called on all organisations and individuals to take part in the campaign which aims to help disadvantaged people across the nation.
The Vice State President presented gifts to two Hanoi families who were exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin during the American war. The VNRC donated 50 wheelchairs to wounded soldiers and disabled people in Hanoi.
According to the VNRC, the campaign aims to help about 651,000 disadvantaged people in 2008.
The campaign will be launched in Ho Chi Minh City on May 18 with nearly 10,000 people walking in support of AO/dioxin victims and other disabled people.
Nearly 30,000 ethnic minority families given business loans
Some 29,775 ethnic minority families in the northern province of Yen Bai have been given 138.602 billion VND in loans to help their businesses at preferential interest rates.
The money has been used in the breeding industry, to plant 16,566 hectares of forests, and to change outdated methods in agricultural production.
Thanks to the loans, as of the first quarter of 2008, nearly 9,000 ethnic minority families had escaped from poverty.
Global care supports ethnic pupils in Lao cai province
20 ethnic pupils who have overcome many hardships to achieve good results in their studies in the northeastern mountainous province of Lao Cai have received scholarships from the Global Care organization of the Republic of Korea.
On the occasion, their families were also provided with breeding animals worth 20 million VND each.
The Global Care organization has also established a group named “Young talent” to help poor outstanding pupils.
Apart from receiving 300,000 VND per month during school time, fees at university or vocational schools and help in finding a job, the pupils were also presented with clothes and learning aids.
Canada gives aid to control pollution
The Canadian Government has provided Vietnam with a non refundable grant worth 15 million USD to improve the capacity of Vietnamese managers handling industrial-pollution control.
A memorandum of understanding, as part of the Village Project Executive Group (VPEG), was signed on May 2 between Natural Resources and Environment Minister Pham Khoi Nguyen and Canadian ambassador Gabriel Lessard.
The grant will benefit nine cities and provinces – Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, Long An, Quang Ngai, Soc Trang, Ha Tay, Hanoi, Hai Duong and Da Nang in the next five years, starting in 2008.
The Vietnam-Japan friendship association marks its 40th anniversary
The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Ibaragi prefecture, Japan held a ceremony on May 3 to mark its 40th anniversary and the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, the association’s chairman, Shimoyama Toranosuke, highlighted Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in recent years and the Vietnamese government’s cooperation in implementing the association’s activities effectively.
Mr Shimoyama expressed his wish to develop sustainable relations between Japan and Vietnam to ensure a lasting peace, happiness and prosperity in the interests of the two peoples in particular and the world in general.
Professor Furuta Motoo from Tokyo University also delivered a speech giving an overall picture of Vietnam over the past 20 years of Doi Moi (Renewal).
At the Cultural House in Ibaragi prefecture, north of Tokyo, there are many stands displaying photos and newspapers cutting about Vietnam and the relationship between the two countries and the association’s activities in support of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims in recent times.
Vietnamese community in Angola turns towards home country
Many significant activities have been held by the Vietnamese community in Angola to support their compatriots in Vietnam.
As much as US $22,500 was given to the Fund for the Poor, Study Encouragement Fund, Fund for Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, Fund of Community Support, Fund to Build Houses of Gratitude.
About 5,000 Vietnamese expatriates are currently living and working in Angola. Most of them live on small trade, but now they have applied hi-tech in business and work in tourism, hotels, and restaurants.
Notably, an avenue was named after Ho Chi Minh in Luanda, the capital of Angola. That means this African country has deep feelings for the beloved leader of Vietnam and Vietnamese people.
University cements scholarship deal
A five-year cooperation agreement was signed between the HCM City Technology University and the cement manufacturing joint venture company Holcim Vietnam last Friday.
Under the agreement, Holcim will provide scholarships worth VND110 million per year from now until 2013 for top students as well as the disadvantaged struggling to graduate from university.
Holcim will also supply 200 to 300 tonnes of cement per year for Technology students’ activities during their "Green Summer" campaigns to develop remote areas in the country.
Tech University students will be able to take tours of Holcim’s plants and factories or even intern there to familiarise themselves with the industry.
Eighty wedding guests get food poisoning
Ha Tay Province’s Phuc Tho District Preventive Medicine Centre said nearly 80 people were treated on Wednesday evening for vomiting and diarrhoea.
The patients were among 600 people who had attended a wedding party on the morning of the same day.
Eight food samples were tested, as the patients were suspected of suffering from food poisoning.
Three dead in Vung Tau seaside drowning
Three people, including two teenagers, drowned while swimming off the Vung Tau beaches on Wednesday.
At one point in the day the weather and wind direction changed suddenly, overturning the floatation devices of many swimmers and carrying them out to sea.
Forty-six people were rescued over the course of Wednesday and Thursday. However, strong winds and heavy rains prevented the rescue team from saving three of the stranded victims .
Heavy rains in North should help irrigation
The Central Weather Forecast Bureau said the North and North Central regions would experience showers and gales today and tomorrow.
These rains are caused by strong winds and low barometric pressure.
The rains will supply a great amount of water for hydroelectricity reservoirs and irrigation networks.
However, mountainous areas should take precautions against strong winds, hail and landslides.
Three die after binge drinking on wine
Can Tho General Hospital on Thursday said three out of four people who had arrived suffering from wine poisoning died.
The remaining patient was moved to HCM City for further treatment.
The poisoning victims were initially hospitalised on Monday with symptoms of low blood pressure and severe respiratory problems.
Catholic congress in Hai Phong
Catholics in the northern port city of Hai Phong convened their fifth congress from April 28-29 to identify major tasks for the next five years.
At the congress, 137 parishes pledged to uphold patriotic tradition and the emulation movement to firmly advance the city during the process of industrialisation and modernisation.
They agreed to promote the movement to build cultured life in residential areas and strive to fight social evils.
Also on April 29, nearly 200 outstanding Catholics from parishes across central Binh Dinh Province attended their fourth congress.
ICF pays to remove VN girl’s tumour
Doctors successfully removed a 7kg tumour from the face of a Vietnamese girl in Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida in the US, with financial support from the International Children’s Fund (ICF), according to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Mexico.
It’s reported that the tumour first appeared on Lai Thi Dao’s tongue when she was three years old and quickly spread. The tumour, one-third of the girl’s weight, made it difficult for her to eat, speak and move around.
The ICF raised US$107,000 for the girl’s surgery.
Australia gives VN 170 scholarships
The Australian Government will provide 170 scholarships to Vietnamese students for postgraduate study at Australian universities in 2009.
Australia Development Scholarships are given out to students interested in studying business, trade, public policy, law, development research, management, agricultural science and environmental research, public health, English teaching and educational management in universities in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Two dead in bus-truck smash
Two people were killed and 20 others injured when a truck collided head-on with a bus on National Highway 1 in Quang Nam Province early yesterday morning.
The south-bound bus was travelling from Hai Duong when it crashed into the truck at Tam Xuan 2 Commune in Nui Thanh District, police said.
The collision totalled the bus, killing the driver and a passenger, and injured 20 of the 33 passengers on board.
Survivors from the bus said the collision was so severe that many passengers were thrown out of the front window onto the road.
Vice President calls for joint actions for disadvantaged people
Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan has called on mass organisations, individuals and all strata of people to jointly take actions to help disadvantaged people.
The Vice President made the call at a ceremony to launch the campaign “each organisation, each individual helps one humanitarian address”, held by the Vietnam Red Cross Society in Hanoi on May 4.
She said the campaign is a good and practical initiative in response to the 118 th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh and the 145 th anniversary of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day which will fall on May 8.
The campaign aims to bring help to an estimated 651,000 disadvantaged people this year. The assistance ranges from cash donations, capital for business start-up to free medical treatment.
The campaign will later be launched in Ho Chi Minh City on May 18. Around 10,000 people will take part in a march to support Agent Orange victims and disabled people.
Traffic accidents claim over 200 lives during holidays
The week-long holidays from April 25 to May 1 saw 217 traffic accidents occur across the country, killing 207 people and injuring 105 others.
According to the Road and Railway Traffic Police Department, most of the accidents were caused by speeding and traffic law violations.
Major hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City reported that the number of traffic victims with head injuries suddenly increased last week, especially on the two national holidays on April 30 and May 1.
In the period, traffic congestions were seen in many places, especially tourist and entertainment.
Friday, 2 May 2008
Bird flu breaks out in one more southern province
15:15' 02/05/2008 (GMT+7)
Bird flu has been discovered in the southern province of Vinh Long, killing nearly 400 chickens of a farmer family in Xuan Hiep commune, Tra On district, reported the local veterinary agency
According to Labourer Newspaper, chickens died on a massive scale on April 26. On April 28, the veterinary agency announced its test results, which showed that the chickens had died of bird flu. None of the chickens were vaccinated.
Vietnam currently has three provinces with this disease, Can Tho and Vinh Long in the south and Son La in the north.
Meanwhile, Youth Newspaper reported that foot-and-mouth disease in cattle is now in the two central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Blue ear disease in pigs continues to develop and it currently exists in ten provinces, including Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Thua Thien-Hue in the central region, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh in the north.
Bird flu has been discovered in the southern province of Vinh Long, killing nearly 400 chickens of a farmer family in Xuan Hiep commune, Tra On district, reported the local veterinary agency
According to Labourer Newspaper, chickens died on a massive scale on April 26. On April 28, the veterinary agency announced its test results, which showed that the chickens had died of bird flu. None of the chickens were vaccinated.
Vietnam currently has three provinces with this disease, Can Tho and Vinh Long in the south and Son La in the north.
Meanwhile, Youth Newspaper reported that foot-and-mouth disease in cattle is now in the two central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Blue ear disease in pigs continues to develop and it currently exists in ten provinces, including Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Thua Thien-Hue in the central region, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh in the north.
Empty houses litter city as real-estate skyrockets
22:08' 02/05/2008 (GMT+7)
While limited land funds are making it difficult for Hanoi to keep up with public works projects and ensuring enough accommodations, hundreds of villas in many urban areas are sitting half finished and abandoned.
Half-finished and abandoned houses in the new Linh Dam residential area in Hanoi.
In new urban areas, such as in Xuan La Ward of Tay Ho District, unfinished buildings covered in moss and pathways overgrown with grass sit next to beautiful apartment buildings.
A similar view can be seen in Van Quan Urban Area in Ha Dong City. Dozens of villas are unoccupied and covered with weeds. The area is littered with injection needles thrown out by drug addicts.
The situation is even worse in Me Tri Urban Area. Weeds, garbage, injection needles and condoms are piling up in unused villas.
Hoang Ngoc Thanh, who owns a house in the urban area, said many houses around his seem abandoned, although they were only built several years ago.
"I never see the owners of these houses," said Thanh.
Thanh said he bought his house from his cousin, who bought it from another acquaintance.
The fact that many houses in these urban areas are left abandoned is evidence that many houses have been sold to people purchasing the houses only for speculation. This has led to a huge waste in funds.
These abandoned houses provide a platform for socially vulnerable groups to carry out illegal activities, and is harmful to the surrounding environment.
Citizens from Me Tri Urban Area said they were worried about their safety, with drug addicts in the area.
A security guard from the same area said they had difficulty keeping an eye on the drug addicts and prostitutes staying in the abandoned houses.
The situation so far has no solution in sight.
A land consultant said these houses were unaffordable for the average buyer and would be difficult to sell.
"These houses keep waiting for their owners," said the consultant.
Even with empty houses littering the area, land and house prices have yet to go down.
Nguyen Chi Si, the director of Ha Noi No 2 Construction Investment Company, said the prices keep rising because of speculation.
While some policies have been implemented to prevent speculation, they have proven ineffective because the houses and land are being traded illegally, according to Si.
"If this keeps up, home ownership will be unreachable for most of the population," said the land consultant.
Nguyen Manh Ha, head of the House Management Department, said that houses must be bought by people intending to live in them.
The State should prevent speculation by collecting tax on land usage and on the house, said Ha.
While limited land funds are making it difficult for Hanoi to keep up with public works projects and ensuring enough accommodations, hundreds of villas in many urban areas are sitting half finished and abandoned.
Half-finished and abandoned houses in the new Linh Dam residential area in Hanoi.
In new urban areas, such as in Xuan La Ward of Tay Ho District, unfinished buildings covered in moss and pathways overgrown with grass sit next to beautiful apartment buildings.
A similar view can be seen in Van Quan Urban Area in Ha Dong City. Dozens of villas are unoccupied and covered with weeds. The area is littered with injection needles thrown out by drug addicts.
The situation is even worse in Me Tri Urban Area. Weeds, garbage, injection needles and condoms are piling up in unused villas.
Hoang Ngoc Thanh, who owns a house in the urban area, said many houses around his seem abandoned, although they were only built several years ago.
"I never see the owners of these houses," said Thanh.
Thanh said he bought his house from his cousin, who bought it from another acquaintance.
The fact that many houses in these urban areas are left abandoned is evidence that many houses have been sold to people purchasing the houses only for speculation. This has led to a huge waste in funds.
These abandoned houses provide a platform for socially vulnerable groups to carry out illegal activities, and is harmful to the surrounding environment.
Citizens from Me Tri Urban Area said they were worried about their safety, with drug addicts in the area.
A security guard from the same area said they had difficulty keeping an eye on the drug addicts and prostitutes staying in the abandoned houses.
The situation so far has no solution in sight.
A land consultant said these houses were unaffordable for the average buyer and would be difficult to sell.
"These houses keep waiting for their owners," said the consultant.
Even with empty houses littering the area, land and house prices have yet to go down.
Nguyen Chi Si, the director of Ha Noi No 2 Construction Investment Company, said the prices keep rising because of speculation.
While some policies have been implemented to prevent speculation, they have proven ineffective because the houses and land are being traded illegally, according to Si.
"If this keeps up, home ownership will be unreachable for most of the population," said the land consultant.
Nguyen Manh Ha, head of the House Management Department, said that houses must be bought by people intending to live in them.
The State should prevent speculation by collecting tax on land usage and on the house, said Ha.
Nation’s rice strategy a success
18:02' 02/05/2008 (GMT+7)
The rush to buy rice ended across the country on the back of falling rice prices, following moves by food companies and market regulators to defuse the worst panic buying in many years.
Official figures show that Vietnam currently has 1.23mil tonnes of rice available in stock, which authorities say testifies that the price rises and rush buying was a result of rumours, speculation and distribution impediments rather than a rice shortage.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Development (MARD), in an official report released to the public on Tuesday, forecast that Vietnam is well on track to producing 36.55mil tonnes of paddy (unhusked rice) this year, if there are no adverse weather conditions.
"If there are no serious natural calamities, Vietnam’s 2008 rice output could reach or even surpass the 36-million-tonne target, ensuring national food security as well as rice exports," said deputy minister of MARD Diep Kinh Tan.
Prices fell to VND16,000-17,000 per kg of premium quality rice yesterday. Rice prices started to climb from VND11,000-13,000 last week to around VND20,000-22,000 per kg over the weekend.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent an urgent notice on Sunday, affirming that Vietnam is fully able to provide food for domestic consumption while ensuring some rice exports.
The Viet Nam Food Association asked members to transfer more rice to stabilise the HCM City market, while the Northern Food Corporation has ensured its outlets all listed prices at VND11,000 for a kilo of export-standard rice. After feverish buying in anticipation of further price rises, business is back to normal at rice shops, with very few buyers yesterday.
The Government on Tuesday issued an official letter asking the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and MARD to closely observe and ensure smooth production, distribution and export of rice as planned.
The Prime Minister also asked the two ministries, as well as the ministries of Public Security, National Defence and Information and Communications, to review and draw lessons from last week’s rice market instability.
Authorities were required to more closely regulate the rice market against smuggling, speculative hoarding and false rumours.
Official figures
With paddy output predicted at 36.5mil tonnes, domestic consumption of paddy in 2008 is forecast at 27.8mil tonnes. That includes 1mil tonnes reserved for breeding, and 5.8mil tonnes in animal feed and post-harvest loss.
The remaining 8.75mil tonnes of paddy, equivalent to 4.5mil tonnes of rice, will be available for export, the report shows.
The Government’s export target of 3.5 to 4mil tonnes was feasible, while still ensuring national food security.
MARD’s official statistics show that Vietnam produced 19.8mil tonnes of paddy in the last six months. Five million tonnes of paddy output, equivalent to 2.8mil tonnes of rice, is earmarked for export.
The General Department of Customs reported that Vietnam exported 1.6mil tonnes of rice in the first four months of 2008, earning US$775mil in revenue, up 73% on the same period last year.
Weak distribution systems
Mekong region countries consider ‘rice cartel’
BANGKOK — An organisation of rice exporting nations similar to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is set to be established by countries in the Mekong region as global prices of the grain surge.
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam have agreed in principle to form a rice cartel, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej told a meeting in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam had agreed to join the Organisation of Rice Exporting Countries (OREC), he said.
Myanmar has also agreed to join, he said, though the country is not a large rice exporter.
Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said the organisation should begin meeting soon.
Thailand is the world’s largest rice exporter, shipping some 9.5mil tonnes last year.
Global rice prices have soared this year, a trend blamed on higher energy and fertiliser costs, greater global demand, droughts, loss of land to biofuel plantations, and speculation.
Global demand for Thai rice has soared after Vietnam and India imposed limits on exports to ensure domestic supply.
Thailand has repeatedly insisted it will not limit exports, but on Tuesday the Government announced it was releasing its stockpile of 2.1mil tonnes into the domestic market to keep prices stable.
MOIT deputy minister Nguyen Cam Tu attributed the temporary shortage to current distribution systems.
Vietnam currently has two rice distribution systems. One is used for supplying rice for export, while the other is reserved for the domestic market. The former was being handled well by the Government and operating smoothly. However, the latter is still at the mercy of the market’s whims.
"We now lack major commercial companies that can be used as effective tools by the Government to regulate the market for rice and other food items," Tu said.
Current food and foodstuff distribution systems are organised unprofessionally so they develop independently without close co-operation, according to Hoang Tho Xuan, director of the MOIT’s Department of Domestic Market.
"Consequently, the market has many distributors but none of them are strong enough to hold enough sway over the market when fluctuations like the last price hike occur," said Xuan.
"Worse still, most activities carried out by current food and foodstuff distributors are out of the control of authorised agencies. In particular, people sell to merchants and then merchants sell to merchants, following their own principles."
With that kind of organisational style, the domestic food market does not have major distributors to support the market and protect it from fluctuations. This created opportunities for speculative practices to arise, he said.
Not only rice, but many other essential commodities, such as fertilisers and steel products, also face distribution problems, he added.
The rush to buy rice ended across the country on the back of falling rice prices, following moves by food companies and market regulators to defuse the worst panic buying in many years.
Official figures show that Vietnam currently has 1.23mil tonnes of rice available in stock, which authorities say testifies that the price rises and rush buying was a result of rumours, speculation and distribution impediments rather than a rice shortage.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Development (MARD), in an official report released to the public on Tuesday, forecast that Vietnam is well on track to producing 36.55mil tonnes of paddy (unhusked rice) this year, if there are no adverse weather conditions.
"If there are no serious natural calamities, Vietnam’s 2008 rice output could reach or even surpass the 36-million-tonne target, ensuring national food security as well as rice exports," said deputy minister of MARD Diep Kinh Tan.
Prices fell to VND16,000-17,000 per kg of premium quality rice yesterday. Rice prices started to climb from VND11,000-13,000 last week to around VND20,000-22,000 per kg over the weekend.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent an urgent notice on Sunday, affirming that Vietnam is fully able to provide food for domestic consumption while ensuring some rice exports.
The Viet Nam Food Association asked members to transfer more rice to stabilise the HCM City market, while the Northern Food Corporation has ensured its outlets all listed prices at VND11,000 for a kilo of export-standard rice. After feverish buying in anticipation of further price rises, business is back to normal at rice shops, with very few buyers yesterday.
The Government on Tuesday issued an official letter asking the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and MARD to closely observe and ensure smooth production, distribution and export of rice as planned.
The Prime Minister also asked the two ministries, as well as the ministries of Public Security, National Defence and Information and Communications, to review and draw lessons from last week’s rice market instability.
Authorities were required to more closely regulate the rice market against smuggling, speculative hoarding and false rumours.
Official figures
With paddy output predicted at 36.5mil tonnes, domestic consumption of paddy in 2008 is forecast at 27.8mil tonnes. That includes 1mil tonnes reserved for breeding, and 5.8mil tonnes in animal feed and post-harvest loss.
The remaining 8.75mil tonnes of paddy, equivalent to 4.5mil tonnes of rice, will be available for export, the report shows.
The Government’s export target of 3.5 to 4mil tonnes was feasible, while still ensuring national food security.
MARD’s official statistics show that Vietnam produced 19.8mil tonnes of paddy in the last six months. Five million tonnes of paddy output, equivalent to 2.8mil tonnes of rice, is earmarked for export.
The General Department of Customs reported that Vietnam exported 1.6mil tonnes of rice in the first four months of 2008, earning US$775mil in revenue, up 73% on the same period last year.
Weak distribution systems
Mekong region countries consider ‘rice cartel’
BANGKOK — An organisation of rice exporting nations similar to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is set to be established by countries in the Mekong region as global prices of the grain surge.
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam have agreed in principle to form a rice cartel, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej told a meeting in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam had agreed to join the Organisation of Rice Exporting Countries (OREC), he said.
Myanmar has also agreed to join, he said, though the country is not a large rice exporter.
Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said the organisation should begin meeting soon.
Thailand is the world’s largest rice exporter, shipping some 9.5mil tonnes last year.
Global rice prices have soared this year, a trend blamed on higher energy and fertiliser costs, greater global demand, droughts, loss of land to biofuel plantations, and speculation.
Global demand for Thai rice has soared after Vietnam and India imposed limits on exports to ensure domestic supply.
Thailand has repeatedly insisted it will not limit exports, but on Tuesday the Government announced it was releasing its stockpile of 2.1mil tonnes into the domestic market to keep prices stable.
MOIT deputy minister Nguyen Cam Tu attributed the temporary shortage to current distribution systems.
Vietnam currently has two rice distribution systems. One is used for supplying rice for export, while the other is reserved for the domestic market. The former was being handled well by the Government and operating smoothly. However, the latter is still at the mercy of the market’s whims.
"We now lack major commercial companies that can be used as effective tools by the Government to regulate the market for rice and other food items," Tu said.
Current food and foodstuff distribution systems are organised unprofessionally so they develop independently without close co-operation, according to Hoang Tho Xuan, director of the MOIT’s Department of Domestic Market.
"Consequently, the market has many distributors but none of them are strong enough to hold enough sway over the market when fluctuations like the last price hike occur," said Xuan.
"Worse still, most activities carried out by current food and foodstuff distributors are out of the control of authorised agencies. In particular, people sell to merchants and then merchants sell to merchants, following their own principles."
With that kind of organisational style, the domestic food market does not have major distributors to support the market and protect it from fluctuations. This created opportunities for speculative practices to arise, he said.
Not only rice, but many other essential commodities, such as fertilisers and steel products, also face distribution problems, he added.
Low skills stymie rural workers
22:21' 02/05/2008 (GMT+7)
Rural labourers are finding they can’t hack it in cities
A huge number of labourers from rural areas are migrating to the cities to find work, but due to low qualifications most are finding they can only pursue low-paying manual labour.
Manager of a private company in Thanh Hoa Province, Pham Dang Khuyen (left), instructs farmers to make rattan products for export. Most rural workers are untrained.
This trend has highlighted the poor vocational orientation among the masses of job-seekers pouring into the cities.
Rural labour accounts for more than 70% of all labour nationwide, and most labourers have not undertaken any vocational training course. Meanwhile, about 331,430 ha of farming land will be rezoned for other activities during the 2006-2010 period, which means that more than 2.5mil farmers will lose their means of making an income, according to statistics from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
It’s a problem that’s reflected in most of the restaurants and garages in Hanoi, where it is easy to find workers who are from the rural areas of northern Vinh Phuc, Ha Tay, Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa provinces.
Many of these workers start manual work to survive day to day, and do not spend much time to plan for a better job in the future.
Nguyen Van Tuan from Giao Thuy District, in the northern province of Nam Dinh, said he came to the capital to find work, following the lead of many of his friends who left the countryside for the big smoke.
Tuan said that after three years in the city, he still hadn’t found a stable job. He used to work as a waiter, gas station attendant and also collected and recycle old electronic products.
Each time he grew dissatisfied with his work, he returned to Giao Thuy. But his time back in the countryside was always short, as the low income he made from farming motivated him to again try his luck in the city.
With a salary between VND600,000-VND1mil per month, people like Tuan find it hard to survive in the city without any savings to help them establish a new life.
Some employers in the city raise concerns about rural workers, saying that they are not reliable as many decide to quit their jobs to return to the countryside.
"Most of the people we hire from rural areas have the idea that they can quit their jobs whenever they want, and that’s why we can’t totally trust them," said one restaurant owner in Hanoi.
Focus on training
Training rural labourers is the primary target in plans on tackling the problem. But so far, vocational training hasn’t provided a solution, due to poor labour management methods and ineffective training.
Many rural labourers have only completed secondary school and have no other qualifications or training.
Lam Van Cong from Ha Hoa, Phu Tho has worked as a cleaner in a hotel since he was 16 years old. Cong said that when he started his job, he didn’t have any idea about what he was supposed to do.
"Other cleaners helped to guide me sometimes and I became used to my job without taking any vocational training courses," said Cong.
"If I take a course, it will cost me money and time."
Trinh Van Truong from Tinh Gia, Thanh Hoa and five of his friends have worked at garage in the city for four years. They all learnt how to do the work while doing the job.
"If I take vocational training courses at a centre, it takes one year and a substantial amount of money," said Truong.
"Meanwhile, while working at the garage I learn the skills required for the job while also making some money."
Tran Tien Dat, director of a vocational training centre of Nha Be District, HCM City, said authorities needed to boost public awareness on the need for proper vocational training and the long-term benefits of this type of training.
"Most labourers need a job but they don’t have any direction to find a suitable job," said Dat.
"The short term benefit is still their first priority so they don’t want to waste any time taking a course."
Rural labourers are finding they can’t hack it in cities
A huge number of labourers from rural areas are migrating to the cities to find work, but due to low qualifications most are finding they can only pursue low-paying manual labour.
Manager of a private company in Thanh Hoa Province, Pham Dang Khuyen (left), instructs farmers to make rattan products for export. Most rural workers are untrained.
This trend has highlighted the poor vocational orientation among the masses of job-seekers pouring into the cities.
Rural labour accounts for more than 70% of all labour nationwide, and most labourers have not undertaken any vocational training course. Meanwhile, about 331,430 ha of farming land will be rezoned for other activities during the 2006-2010 period, which means that more than 2.5mil farmers will lose their means of making an income, according to statistics from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
It’s a problem that’s reflected in most of the restaurants and garages in Hanoi, where it is easy to find workers who are from the rural areas of northern Vinh Phuc, Ha Tay, Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa provinces.
Many of these workers start manual work to survive day to day, and do not spend much time to plan for a better job in the future.
Nguyen Van Tuan from Giao Thuy District, in the northern province of Nam Dinh, said he came to the capital to find work, following the lead of many of his friends who left the countryside for the big smoke.
Tuan said that after three years in the city, he still hadn’t found a stable job. He used to work as a waiter, gas station attendant and also collected and recycle old electronic products.
Each time he grew dissatisfied with his work, he returned to Giao Thuy. But his time back in the countryside was always short, as the low income he made from farming motivated him to again try his luck in the city.
With a salary between VND600,000-VND1mil per month, people like Tuan find it hard to survive in the city without any savings to help them establish a new life.
Some employers in the city raise concerns about rural workers, saying that they are not reliable as many decide to quit their jobs to return to the countryside.
"Most of the people we hire from rural areas have the idea that they can quit their jobs whenever they want, and that’s why we can’t totally trust them," said one restaurant owner in Hanoi.
Focus on training
Training rural labourers is the primary target in plans on tackling the problem. But so far, vocational training hasn’t provided a solution, due to poor labour management methods and ineffective training.
Many rural labourers have only completed secondary school and have no other qualifications or training.
Lam Van Cong from Ha Hoa, Phu Tho has worked as a cleaner in a hotel since he was 16 years old. Cong said that when he started his job, he didn’t have any idea about what he was supposed to do.
"Other cleaners helped to guide me sometimes and I became used to my job without taking any vocational training courses," said Cong.
"If I take a course, it will cost me money and time."
Trinh Van Truong from Tinh Gia, Thanh Hoa and five of his friends have worked at garage in the city for four years. They all learnt how to do the work while doing the job.
"If I take vocational training courses at a centre, it takes one year and a substantial amount of money," said Truong.
"Meanwhile, while working at the garage I learn the skills required for the job while also making some money."
Tran Tien Dat, director of a vocational training centre of Nha Be District, HCM City, said authorities needed to boost public awareness on the need for proper vocational training and the long-term benefits of this type of training.
"Most labourers need a job but they don’t have any direction to find a suitable job," said Dat.
"The short term benefit is still their first priority so they don’t want to waste any time taking a course."
PM grants major cities more power
22:01' 02/05/2008 (GMT+7)
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung granted authorities of Hanoi and HCM City more power in decentralisation efforts to help the two cities complete their socio-economic development plans.
After a recent meeting with leaders of HCM City, Dung concluded that the city played an important role in the country’s socio-economic development, accounting for 22% of GDP, one-third of the State’s budget and 40% of the country’s export turnover.
Dung wanted HCM City to balance necessary goods for consumption and production including electric, petroleum, iron and foodstuff to avoid price hikes.
The city was asked to strengthen controls on anti-smuggling and trade frauds, and check-up on the progress of public investment projects, ensuring unnecessary and ineffective projects were postponed or delayed.
He emphasised that priority should be given to social welfare projects, especially for needy and underprivileged people.
The Prime Minister also gave the city concrete guidance on subterraneous building projects, readjusting estimates for projects funded by ODA, and managing activities of credit organisations, investment funds, securities companies and real estate companies.
After the meeting with Hanoi’s leaders, the Prime Minister asked provincial authorities to effectively implement measures to control inflation, increase production and exports, stabilise prices on the market and prevent speculation.
The municipal authorities were instructed to co-ordinate with the Ministry of Construction to plan city expansion with traffic infrastructure in mind.
Dung agreed with the city’s plan to celebrate the 1000th year of Thang Long – Ha Noi and assigned the Ministry of Construction to co-ordinate with the municipal People’s Committee and relevant sectors to develop a project to renovate the ancient citadel area.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung granted authorities of Hanoi and HCM City more power in decentralisation efforts to help the two cities complete their socio-economic development plans.
After a recent meeting with leaders of HCM City, Dung concluded that the city played an important role in the country’s socio-economic development, accounting for 22% of GDP, one-third of the State’s budget and 40% of the country’s export turnover.
Dung wanted HCM City to balance necessary goods for consumption and production including electric, petroleum, iron and foodstuff to avoid price hikes.
The city was asked to strengthen controls on anti-smuggling and trade frauds, and check-up on the progress of public investment projects, ensuring unnecessary and ineffective projects were postponed or delayed.
He emphasised that priority should be given to social welfare projects, especially for needy and underprivileged people.
The Prime Minister also gave the city concrete guidance on subterraneous building projects, readjusting estimates for projects funded by ODA, and managing activities of credit organisations, investment funds, securities companies and real estate companies.
After the meeting with Hanoi’s leaders, the Prime Minister asked provincial authorities to effectively implement measures to control inflation, increase production and exports, stabilise prices on the market and prevent speculation.
The municipal authorities were instructed to co-ordinate with the Ministry of Construction to plan city expansion with traffic infrastructure in mind.
Dung agreed with the city’s plan to celebrate the 1000th year of Thang Long – Ha Noi and assigned the Ministry of Construction to co-ordinate with the municipal People’s Committee and relevant sectors to develop a project to renovate the ancient citadel area.
Labor market forecast to cool down
13:10' 02/05/2008 (GMT+7)
The human resource advisory services director of Navigos Group has forecast Vietnam's labor market with generally cool down this year given better supply and a foreseeable salary easing for certain industry categories.
Winnie Lam of the Vietnam's leading recruiting and integrated human resource solutions provider said companies now had better choice for employees as a lot of training companies had joined the market.
Lam used the finding of Navigos Group's quarterly Vietnam Online Employment Indicator Report to show that supply in all industries/categories in the first quarter of 2008 grew over 40% higher than the last quarter of last year, marking the largest growth of total supply in the last five quarters. Meanwhile, the demand index rose by 17%.
"It is interesting to see the labor supply-demand gap start to narrow," Lam said.
She added that this year would see salary slowing down for some industries, including finance, which was the hottest category last year, and the fact that employers were becoming more cautious about salary competition.
Lam said some categories Including retail banking would remain "very hot", and the result is that employees continue to ask for higher salary. Moreover, salary will not slow down in the new technology and management areas where highly-skilled people are still in need.
However, salary in Vietnam was generally lower than in other regional countries and the costs were still reasonable, Lam told the Daily after a news briefing that Navigos Group held here on Monday to announce the launch of Vietnam Salary Survey 2008.
This year, the group includes a broader range of job categories in the survey to capture the growth in the country's ever-changing labor market. The 17 new job groups and a total of 75 in all help the survey cover almost every job category in the Vietnamese market.
The addition enables the final report to be more extensive, and helps companies analyze and compare gross salaries, net salaries, bonuses, allowances and benefits for hundreds of different positions.
The first such bilingual-version survey for both English and non-English readers will continue the competency-based approach, as in the previous report's format, placing emphasis on analyzing company and individual data.
Lam said more than 60 companies across Vietnam had committed to join the survey. The target is 200 large and small companies from different industries and economic sectors throughout the country.
Navigos Group will release the final survey in the third quarter of 2008 before annual salary reviews and adjustments to help answer critical questions regarding remuneration and measure a company's competitiveness in the labor market.
"A clear understanding of competitive, industry-specific salary levels is critical in shaping a company's talent pool in the current market," Lam said.
Navigos Group launched Vietnam Salary Survey in 2005. Last year, the survey attracted the participation of 156 foreign-invested and local companies, with collective data from 28,000 employees in 11 major industries.
Navigos Group's Vietnam Salary Survey 2008 is open for companies to register their participation until July 12 this year.
The human resource advisory services director of Navigos Group has forecast Vietnam's labor market with generally cool down this year given better supply and a foreseeable salary easing for certain industry categories.
Winnie Lam of the Vietnam's leading recruiting and integrated human resource solutions provider said companies now had better choice for employees as a lot of training companies had joined the market.
Lam used the finding of Navigos Group's quarterly Vietnam Online Employment Indicator Report to show that supply in all industries/categories in the first quarter of 2008 grew over 40% higher than the last quarter of last year, marking the largest growth of total supply in the last five quarters. Meanwhile, the demand index rose by 17%.
"It is interesting to see the labor supply-demand gap start to narrow," Lam said.
She added that this year would see salary slowing down for some industries, including finance, which was the hottest category last year, and the fact that employers were becoming more cautious about salary competition.
Lam said some categories Including retail banking would remain "very hot", and the result is that employees continue to ask for higher salary. Moreover, salary will not slow down in the new technology and management areas where highly-skilled people are still in need.
However, salary in Vietnam was generally lower than in other regional countries and the costs were still reasonable, Lam told the Daily after a news briefing that Navigos Group held here on Monday to announce the launch of Vietnam Salary Survey 2008.
This year, the group includes a broader range of job categories in the survey to capture the growth in the country's ever-changing labor market. The 17 new job groups and a total of 75 in all help the survey cover almost every job category in the Vietnamese market.
The addition enables the final report to be more extensive, and helps companies analyze and compare gross salaries, net salaries, bonuses, allowances and benefits for hundreds of different positions.
The first such bilingual-version survey for both English and non-English readers will continue the competency-based approach, as in the previous report's format, placing emphasis on analyzing company and individual data.
Lam said more than 60 companies across Vietnam had committed to join the survey. The target is 200 large and small companies from different industries and economic sectors throughout the country.
Navigos Group will release the final survey in the third quarter of 2008 before annual salary reviews and adjustments to help answer critical questions regarding remuneration and measure a company's competitiveness in the labor market.
"A clear understanding of competitive, industry-specific salary levels is critical in shaping a company's talent pool in the current market," Lam said.
Navigos Group launched Vietnam Salary Survey in 2005. Last year, the survey attracted the participation of 156 foreign-invested and local companies, with collective data from 28,000 employees in 11 major industries.
Navigos Group's Vietnam Salary Survey 2008 is open for companies to register their participation until July 12 this year.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Vietnamese laborers abroad remit 1.7 billion USD per year
| 13:26' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) | ||
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Overseas Vietnamese aspiration for advertising Vietnam images to the world
| 13:24' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) |
VietNamNet Bridge - Living far from Vietnam since 1974 when he began study abroad in Japan, Le Viet Hao always thought of the homeland and dreamed of returning to Vietnam. |
Population growth rate affects job generation
| 13:34' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) | ||
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11.30am on April 30,1975: An unforgettable memory
| 13:09' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) |
VietNamNet Bridge - Thirty-three years have elapsed since the historical moment when the Saigon puppet government’s President Duong Van Minh declared unconditional surrender to the Liberation Army. However, that eventful day is still fresh in the minds of witnesses. |
Son My marks war-end with great growth
| 13:07' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) | ||
International visitors at the Son My relics |
SOCIAL IN BRIEF 1/5
| 23:16' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) | ||
A group of Vietnamese doctors from Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho conducted free eye surgeries and treatment to poor patients in some Cambodian provinces from April 27-29. Old man witnesses change in Central Highlands As a lifelong resident of the Central Highlands Dak Lak province, Ale B Village P atriarch H’ri can recall many changes in the region over his lifetime. Week on safe water and environmental sanitation in rural areas launchedA Week on safe water and environmental sanitation in rural areas commenced at the Muong Than senior secondary school, Than Uyen district, Lai Chau province. The week, launched by the People's Committee of Lai Chau province and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is the 14th event of the kind in Vietnam. According to the Vietnam Centre for Safe Water and Environmental Sanitation, Vietnam has had around 70% of its households having sanitary water. However, according to the Ministry of Public Health's survey, only 18% of households, 12% of schools and 3% of markets in rural areas have had standard toilets, while only 15% of households have had safe water. These figures are too low compared to the targets in a national programme on safe water and environmental sanitation in rural areas throughout 2010. Therefore, in 2008, the centre will promote its dissemination and education activities, so as to make the public fully aware of the issues. In addition, investment will be promoted to improve sanitation conditions in rural areas. Australia to provide 170 scholarships Australia will provide 170 scholarships for Vietnamese to join post graduate study in Australia in 2009, reported the Vietnam News Agency. This was announced by the Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City said on April 28. The scholarships will be provided by the Australia Development Scholarship project of the Australian government for Vietnamese to study business, trade, public policy, law, development research, management, agricultural science and environmental research, public health, English teaching and educational management at Australian universities in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. Japanese ODA capital ‘used well’ Loans from Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) used for infrastructure projects in Ho Chi Minh City have been used effectively, according to Ho Chi Minh City authorities. Loans have been used to build new terminals at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the city’s East-West Highway, the Thu Thiem Tunnel under Saigon River, the city’s first metro route, and a waste water treatment system. Speaking at a meeting with Wada Sada on April 27, chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association, Le Hoang Quan, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said Vietnam was the number one recipient of the Government’s ODA loans. Wada, who is also chairman of Kansdai’s Small-and Medium-sized Enterprises’ Association, was leading a 22-member business delegation on a tour of Vietnam last week. The tour offered Japanese businesspeople to see the rapid development in Vietnam, said Wada, adding that he would send a report to the Japanese Prime Minister to request further investment into Vietnam in the near future. Members of the delegation expressed interest in waste water treatment and urban development projects in Ho Chi Minh City, said Wada. He added that the association would help further economic and cultural relations between Kansai and Ho Chi Minh City. Acute diarrhoea in Hanoi contained Acute diarrhoea has basically been contained in Hanoi, said Dr Le Anh Tuan, director of the Hanoi Department of Public Health. Recently, only between five and ten people, who were suspected to have suffered from the disease, have been hospitalised each day. They are being treated properly. In addition, food safety and hygiene practice in the city has been promoted. So far, 30 street food vendors have been suspended by local authorities due to their failure to meet the food hygiene and safety requirements. However, there is still a high risk of the disease reoccurring. Thus, the local health service is still warning local people about promoting food hygiene and safety practices so as to prevent the disease. 134 outstanding workers in Hanoi honoured One hundred and thirty four outstanding workers in Hanoi were honoured at a ceremony in Hanoii on April 27. The workers are among 27,195 outstanding workers at the organisational level and 1,739 outstanding workers at the district levels in 2008. Pham Quang Nghi, secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, said that the capital city's workers and labourers should receive more support and training services from trade unions at all levels, to become a driving force in the industrialisation and modernisation process in the city in particular and the country in general. Most enterprises in the city have paid a due attention to implementing the outstanding workers' campaign, having been aware of the important role of workers and labourers, who directly create products and services. HCM City marks April 30 Victory The entire Party Committee, administration and people of Ho Chi Minh City have committed themselves to developing the city in line with the national goal “a rich people, a strong country, and an equitable, democratic and civilised society”. US-funded detoxification clinics put in use Two detoxification clinics using methadone were put into operation in the northern port city of Hai Phong on April 29 to help injecting heroin users beat the addiction and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. Cultural week kicks off for Vietnamese students in Laos Vietnamese students in Laos launched a cultural week in Vientiane on April 28. 10 doctorate scholarships in Poland In the 2008-2009 school year, the Polish government will provide ten doctorate scholarships for Vietnamese to study social and natural sciences, economics and technology. Southern Tra Vinh province will operate its first solar electrical energy project, worth 36,000 USD to be financed by the Czech Republic, in an islet five kilometers from the coast. Promoting high quality human resource training At a televised conference about high quality human resource training in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan said that the state will propose solutions to promote high quality human resource training in these two cities. British Embassy provides capacity-building support for of Vietnam On April 29, British Embassy in Vietnam officials handed over a variety IT equipment to the Immigration Department of Vietnam in the support of common efforts to tackle illegal migration and increase returns. Japanese Kansai region boosts co-operation with HCM City Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society President Wada Sadao of the Japanese Kansai region has pledged to increase cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City, especially investment in urban and liquid waste treatment projects. UN congratulates Vietnam on the commencement of the methadone substitution programme The United Nations on April 29 congratulates Vietnam on the introduction of methadone maintenance therapy in two clinics in Hai Phong City. Vietnamese students in Russia hold football tournament Vietnamese students in Russia are competing in a football tournament being held at the Spartac sport complex from April 19 to May 11. Money launderers in the spotlight Financial analysts from Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam sharpened their skills at a regional workshop in the capital yesterday. The two day workshop, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Bank (WB), focused on different analytical methods and access to information sources in the pursuit of suspected money launderers. Each of the analysts were from Financial Intelligence Units in their respective countries. In Viet Nam, the unit is also the State Bank of Viet Nam’s Anti Money Laundering Information Centre, which analyses financial reports and investigates suspected money laundering cases. The financial intelligence unit often works with suspicious transaction reports and large cash transaction reports from banks and other reporting institutes. The workshop is part of a long term technical assistance programme, provided by UNODC and the WB to tackle money laundering as an organised crime. Cathay Pacific’s green contest Budding environmentalists are getting their pens ready as Cathay Pacific launched its 11th annual essay writing competition last week. The contest, titled the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience (IWE) is run in co-operation with the Ha Noi’s Student Association and is open to all high school students between the ages of 16 and 18 in Ha Noi. The two top entrants from Viet Nam will join 20 other high school students from around the world on a special educational course from July 21 to 27 in South Africa’s Simangaliso Wetlands Park. Each entrant must complete an application and submit an original 500-word essay - written in English - about the environment before May 23. Rare bear smuggler heads to court Legal proceedings have begun against a woman caught smuggling the corpses of two rare Tibetan bears, according to the Forestry Management authority in Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province. Tran Thi Ngoc Lanh, a resident of Quang Trach District, Quang Binh Province, was caught transporting the bears through the Lao Bao border checkpoint to Dong Ha coastal town. The case is still under investigation. Quang Ninh border police find drugs A special task force under Quang Ninh Province’s Border Guards have uncovered a ring of drug smugglers operating between Viet Nam and China. Ngo Ngoc Phan, 23, from Mong Cai Town, was caught red-handed last Thursday carrying 7,200 tablets of Phenadoxone, a kind of synthetic drug, from China to Viet Nam by motorbike. Phan said he’d been employed by Pham Thi Mai Lien from Mong Cai Town to transport the drug. Following Lien’s subsequent arrest, along with her accomplice Chi Trung, she supplied information about a heroin trafficking ring operating between Viet Nam to China. |
US surgeons remove giant facial tumour from Vietnamese girl
| 22:47' 01/05/2008 (GMT+7) | ||
Lai Thi Dao (photo: AP) |
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Vietnam initially controls pig disease
14:43' 30/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has initially put the blue ear disease on pigs under control, announced the Veterinary Department’s Vice Head Hoang Van Nam on April 29.
The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) (known as blue ear disease) have so far found in 10 provinces, including northern Thai Nguyen, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh provinces, central Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, and Central Highlands Lam Dong province.
To fight the epidemic more effectively, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Chinese Veterinary Administration to send experts to Vietnam in May.
The ministry has also signed with the Chinese side a contract to import 1 million doses of anti PRRS vaccine.
In addition, localities have been urged to tighten control over transportation of pigs and their products, as well as butchery.
Last week, northern mountainous Son La province discovered a new outbreak of bird flu, joining southern Can Tho Province in the list of the disease-stricken localities.
VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has initially put the blue ear disease on pigs under control, announced the Veterinary Department’s Vice Head Hoang Van Nam on April 29.
The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) (known as blue ear disease) have so far found in 10 provinces, including northern Thai Nguyen, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh provinces, central Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, and Central Highlands Lam Dong province.
To fight the epidemic more effectively, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Chinese Veterinary Administration to send experts to Vietnam in May.
The ministry has also signed with the Chinese side a contract to import 1 million doses of anti PRRS vaccine.
In addition, localities have been urged to tighten control over transportation of pigs and their products, as well as butchery.
Last week, northern mountainous Son La province discovered a new outbreak of bird flu, joining southern Can Tho Province in the list of the disease-stricken localities.
Mekong Delta: State employees unexpectedly ‘emigrate’
17:20' 30/04/2008 (GMT+7)
The People's Committee of Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province
VietNamNet Bridge - A series of state employees in provinces in the Mekong Delta have quit their jobs, resulting in a scarcity of talents within state agencies.
Losing tons of money on training
More than 310 state employees in Ca Mau province have quit their jobs in the past three years.
The reason, according to the Ca Mau Department of Home Affairs, is low income. State employees aren’t able to support their families and the pay is incommensurate with their abilities.
Some provinces in the Mekong Delta, such as Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang, have issued many preferential policies to attract talents to state agencies. Particularly, Ca Mau spends between VND28-30 billion (US$1.75-1.875 million) for training and improving the qualifications of its state employees. This is a large fund for a small province like Ca Mau.
According to the Ca Mau Department of Home Affairs, the province trained more than 93,000 state employees from 2001 to 2007, including 5,976 people at the graduate level, over 500 people at post-graduate level and 3 trained abroad. In this period, other Mekong Delta provinces like Bac Lieu, Hau Giang and Soc Trang also invested VND25, 20 and 30 billion in this task, respectively.
Can’t hold state employees
Nguyen Binh Dang, Director of the Project Management Board of Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province, said: “Most of our staffs live in Nam Can (30km from Ngoc Hien district by river-way). Sometimes they miss the ferry so they have to come to the office by high-speed boat, which is very costly.”
As the trip is very difficult, engineer Phan Hoang Phong, an employee of the Ngoc Hien District Project Management Board, said goodbye to the agency to seek a new job at Vinashin Ca Mau, which is based in Nam Can.
Le Van Khang, Vice Chairman of the Ngoc Hien Commune People’s Committee, said the committee doesn’t have a spacious office yet. Over 90% of the committee lives in Nam Can and they have to go to the office by ferry. As the working and travelling conditions are poor, many employees are discouraged.
Ngoc Hien is the remotest district of Ca Mau. It is surrounded by two big rivers which boast no bridge.
Cao Van Thuong from Tan An commune said: “To do any administrative formality, I have to wake up at 3 in the morning to go to the People’s Committee (of Ngoc Hien district). I’m a hamlet office but my allowance is not sufficient to pay for travelling costs.”
In Bac Lieu province, state-owned hospitals are losing their best doctors to private ones. Tran Van Khanh, Director of the Bac Lieu General Hospital, said since 2000, his hospital has lost seven experienced doctors.
Policies need to be changed
At present, all state employees are under a common salary policy. Both technicians and normal employees enjoy the same wage levels. Each province applies its own policies in attracting talents.
The People’s Committee of Ca Mau province has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to raise the salaries of state employees, especially commune-level officials: state employees’ monthly incomes must be equal to or higher than the average received by workers of non-state agencies.
The People's Committee of Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province
VietNamNet Bridge - A series of state employees in provinces in the Mekong Delta have quit their jobs, resulting in a scarcity of talents within state agencies.
Losing tons of money on training
More than 310 state employees in Ca Mau province have quit their jobs in the past three years.
The reason, according to the Ca Mau Department of Home Affairs, is low income. State employees aren’t able to support their families and the pay is incommensurate with their abilities.
Some provinces in the Mekong Delta, such as Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang, have issued many preferential policies to attract talents to state agencies. Particularly, Ca Mau spends between VND28-30 billion (US$1.75-1.875 million) for training and improving the qualifications of its state employees. This is a large fund for a small province like Ca Mau.
According to the Ca Mau Department of Home Affairs, the province trained more than 93,000 state employees from 2001 to 2007, including 5,976 people at the graduate level, over 500 people at post-graduate level and 3 trained abroad. In this period, other Mekong Delta provinces like Bac Lieu, Hau Giang and Soc Trang also invested VND25, 20 and 30 billion in this task, respectively.
Can’t hold state employees
Nguyen Binh Dang, Director of the Project Management Board of Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province, said: “Most of our staffs live in Nam Can (30km from Ngoc Hien district by river-way). Sometimes they miss the ferry so they have to come to the office by high-speed boat, which is very costly.”
As the trip is very difficult, engineer Phan Hoang Phong, an employee of the Ngoc Hien District Project Management Board, said goodbye to the agency to seek a new job at Vinashin Ca Mau, which is based in Nam Can.
Le Van Khang, Vice Chairman of the Ngoc Hien Commune People’s Committee, said the committee doesn’t have a spacious office yet. Over 90% of the committee lives in Nam Can and they have to go to the office by ferry. As the working and travelling conditions are poor, many employees are discouraged.
Ngoc Hien is the remotest district of Ca Mau. It is surrounded by two big rivers which boast no bridge.
Cao Van Thuong from Tan An commune said: “To do any administrative formality, I have to wake up at 3 in the morning to go to the People’s Committee (of Ngoc Hien district). I’m a hamlet office but my allowance is not sufficient to pay for travelling costs.”
In Bac Lieu province, state-owned hospitals are losing their best doctors to private ones. Tran Van Khanh, Director of the Bac Lieu General Hospital, said since 2000, his hospital has lost seven experienced doctors.
Policies need to be changed
At present, all state employees are under a common salary policy. Both technicians and normal employees enjoy the same wage levels. Each province applies its own policies in attracting talents.
The People’s Committee of Ca Mau province has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to raise the salaries of state employees, especially commune-level officials: state employees’ monthly incomes must be equal to or higher than the average received by workers of non-state agencies.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Gov’s supports insurance premiums
03:44' 30/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – The Government will spend VND700bil (US$43.8mil) to pay 50% of voluntary health insurance premiums for people living near the poverty line to buy voluntary health insurance cards this year, Tong Thi Song Huong, head of the Health Insurance Department under the Ministry of Health said.
The programme will begin in mid May. The support rate could be up to 70% of voluntary health insurance premiums in areas that have their own budgets for voluntary health insurance.
Voluntary health insurance cards cost VND130,000 (US$8.10 ) a year. According to estimated, roughly 16mil people live near the poverty line in the country.
VietNamNet Bridge – The Government will spend VND700bil (US$43.8mil) to pay 50% of voluntary health insurance premiums for people living near the poverty line to buy voluntary health insurance cards this year, Tong Thi Song Huong, head of the Health Insurance Department under the Ministry of Health said.
The programme will begin in mid May. The support rate could be up to 70% of voluntary health insurance premiums in areas that have their own budgets for voluntary health insurance.
Voluntary health insurance cards cost VND130,000 (US$8.10 ) a year. According to estimated, roughly 16mil people live near the poverty line in the country.
Detoxification by methadone begins in Hai Phong
16:49' 29/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – From now to the end of December 2008, two clinics in the coastal city of Hai Phong will use methadone to detoxify 700 heroin addicts.
Methadone is a gentle drug which is used to gradually replace heroin for drug addicts. Hai Phong is the first place the Health Ministry has permitted to use methadone in treatment. In May, the new treatment method using methadone will be applied in HCM City.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic, antitussive and maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients addicted to opioids. It was developed in Germany in 1937. Although chemically unlike morphine or heroin, methadone also acts on the opioid receptors and thus produces many of the same effects.
Methadone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. For more than 30 years this synthetic narcotic has been used to treat opioid addiction. Heroin releases an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to need an opiate continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupies this receptor and is the stabilising factor that permits addicts on methadone to change their behaviour and to discontinue heroin use.
Taken orally once a day, methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for between 24 and 36 hours. Because methadone is effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms, it is used in detoxifying opiate addicts. It is, however, only effective in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, and it is not an effective treatment for other drugs. Methadone reduces the cravings associated with heroin use and blocks the high from heroin, but it does not provide the euphoric rush. Consequently, methadone patients do not experience the extreme highs and lows that result from the waxing and waning of heroin levels in the blood. Ultimately, the patient remains physically dependent on the opioid, but is freed from the uncontrolled, compulsive, and disruptive behaviour seen in heroin addicts.
Methadone maintenance treatment provides the heroin addict with individualised health care and medically prescribed methadone to relieve withdrawal symptoms, reduces opiate cravings, and brings about a biochemical balance in the body. Important elements in heroin treatment include comprehensive social and rehabilitation services.
The Health Ministry has chosen Methadone because of its advantages like it can be taken orally so it can reduce HIV transmission and other diseases transmitted via blood, is less addictive than other kinds of drugs, and drug addicts only need to take it once a day.
Methadone has been used in detoxification for 40 years in the world and the World Health Organisation has added it to its list of essential medicines.
VietNamNet Bridge – From now to the end of December 2008, two clinics in the coastal city of Hai Phong will use methadone to detoxify 700 heroin addicts.
Methadone is a gentle drug which is used to gradually replace heroin for drug addicts. Hai Phong is the first place the Health Ministry has permitted to use methadone in treatment. In May, the new treatment method using methadone will be applied in HCM City.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic, antitussive and maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients addicted to opioids. It was developed in Germany in 1937. Although chemically unlike morphine or heroin, methadone also acts on the opioid receptors and thus produces many of the same effects.
Methadone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. For more than 30 years this synthetic narcotic has been used to treat opioid addiction. Heroin releases an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to need an opiate continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupies this receptor and is the stabilising factor that permits addicts on methadone to change their behaviour and to discontinue heroin use.
Taken orally once a day, methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for between 24 and 36 hours. Because methadone is effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms, it is used in detoxifying opiate addicts. It is, however, only effective in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, and it is not an effective treatment for other drugs. Methadone reduces the cravings associated with heroin use and blocks the high from heroin, but it does not provide the euphoric rush. Consequently, methadone patients do not experience the extreme highs and lows that result from the waxing and waning of heroin levels in the blood. Ultimately, the patient remains physically dependent on the opioid, but is freed from the uncontrolled, compulsive, and disruptive behaviour seen in heroin addicts.
Methadone maintenance treatment provides the heroin addict with individualised health care and medically prescribed methadone to relieve withdrawal symptoms, reduces opiate cravings, and brings about a biochemical balance in the body. Important elements in heroin treatment include comprehensive social and rehabilitation services.
The Health Ministry has chosen Methadone because of its advantages like it can be taken orally so it can reduce HIV transmission and other diseases transmitted via blood, is less addictive than other kinds of drugs, and drug addicts only need to take it once a day.
Methadone has been used in detoxification for 40 years in the world and the World Health Organisation has added it to its list of essential medicines.
SOCIAL IN BRIEF 30/4
02:33' 30/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Work starts on Dak Nong’s biggest bridge
Construction of a bridge that is part of the Ho Chi Minh Highway began in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on April 28.
The bridge, which is designed to be 980m in length, 18m in width and with two 400m approach roads, will be the biggest of its kind in Dak Nong Province.
It is estimated to cost roughly 3.87 million USD (62 billion VND) funded by the Ho Chi Minh Highway Management Board.
The opening of the bridge to traffic in February 2010 is hoped to increase accessibility and opportunities for socio-economic development in the province.
Nghe An receives remains of volunteer soldiers from Laos
A ceremony to hand over the remains of 162 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died during the wars in Laos was held in central Nghe An Province on April 28.
The hand over saw the participation of Lao Deputy Defense Minister Ketsin, representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and local authorities.
The remains were then buried at the Vietnam-Laos Friendly Cemetery in Anh Son District.
Workshop talks on China-VN border
Propaganda campaigns were important part of land border demarcations between Vietnam and China, a workshop in the northern province of Cao Bang heard on April 28.
More than 150 participants from local authorities, relevant agencies and the media attended the workshop, which was organised by the Party Central Commission on Education and Propaganda.
The meeting heard that propaganda campaigns were needed to secure the early completion of the demarcation of the land border as it would ensure consensus among Vietnamese people about the work.
Participants agreed that the campaigns should result in a shared understanding among the people, which will combat information deemed to oppose the work.
Work starts on Dak Nong’s biggest bridge
Construction of a bridge that is part of the Ho Chi Minh Highway began in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on April 28.
The bridge, which is designed to be 980m in length, 18m in width and with two 400m approach roads, will be the biggest of its kind in Dak Nong Province.
It is estimated to cost roughly 3.87 million USD (62 billion VND) funded by the Ho Chi Minh Highway Management Board.
The opening of the bridge to traffic in February 2010 is hoped to increase accessibility and opportunities for socio-economic development in the province.
Nghe An receives remains of volunteer soldiers from Laos
A ceremony to hand over the remains of 162 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died during the wars in Laos was held in central Nghe An Province on April 28.
The hand over saw the participation of Lao Deputy Defense Minister Ketsin, representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and local authorities.
The remains were then buried at the Vietnam-Laos Friendly Cemetery in Anh Son District.
Workshop talks on China-VN border
Propaganda campaigns were important part of land border demarcations between Vietnam and China, a workshop in the northern province of Cao Bang heard on April 28.
More than 150 participants from local authorities, relevant agencies and the media attended the workshop, which was organised by the Party Central Commission on Education and Propaganda.
The meeting heard that propaganda campaigns were needed to secure the early completion of the demarcation of the land border as it would ensure consensus among Vietnamese people about the work.
Participants agreed that the campaigns should result in a shared understanding among the people, which will combat information deemed to oppose the work.
SOCIAL IN BRIEF 29/4
12:10' 29/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Hanoi: 30 markets and restaurants closed
The Hanoi Department of Health on April 28 announced the names of 30 markets and restaurants that are temporarily closed for violating food hygiene standards in the past ten days.
The Department said there are many stores that sell unhygienic food which can spread cholera so the city will continue inspection over food stores and markets in the coming days.
Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Hanoi Health Department, said the number of hospitalized acute diarrhea patients is reducing, from around 100 patients a day in early April to 5-10 patients in recent days.
(Source: TP)
HCM City turns off 50% of public lights
The city has issued an instruction on power savings, under which 50% of public lights along streets and on parks will be turned off. However, traffic lights will not be turned off.
The city also asked families to restrict using electric equipment during the peak hours (6-10pm) and factories to reasonably arrange production activities.
(Source: Tuoi Tre)
Justice Ministry surveys appointment process in Ca Mau
The Chief Inspector of the Justice Ministry, Nguyen Sy Cuong, led a working group to the southern province of Ca Mau on April 28 to learn of the province’s appointment process.
Today, inspectors will work with officials of the Organizational Board of the Ca Mau Party Committee.
The inspection trip is conducted after the province’s Party Chief received VND100 million in bribes from an unnamed person to solicit for a position in the local government.
(Source: TP)
Faked medicines increases year by year
The volume of faked drugs is raising yearly on the market, reported the Vietnam Drug Administration. Last year faked medicines accounted for 3.30% of tested samples, the highest ratio in the past seven years.
Dr. Truong Quoc Cuong, Head of the Vietnam Drug Administration, said at a conference on developing the pharmaceutical industry held in Hanoi last week, that the Vietnamese pharmaceutical market reached $1.13 billion last year and it will reach $1.34 billion this year. Locally-made medicine volume satisfies 52.86% of the total demand.
Vietnamese drug producers have produced 27 groups of medicines under the World Health Organization’s classification. However, the local pharmaceutical industry is developing spontaneously.
There are some kinds of medicines are in surplus while many others must be imported. More than 90% of materials serving the pharmaceutical industry are imported.
Though a drug distributions system has been set up, the health sector can’t completely control drug prices on the market.
According to the Vietnam Drug Administration, drug prices will slightly increase from now to the year end due to the price increase of materials and inputs.
The Health Ministry said it is a top priority to develop the pharmaceutical industry to meet the need for drugs of Vietnamese people in the future and to stabilize the drug market.
Hanoi: 30 markets and restaurants closed
The Hanoi Department of Health on April 28 announced the names of 30 markets and restaurants that are temporarily closed for violating food hygiene standards in the past ten days.
The Department said there are many stores that sell unhygienic food which can spread cholera so the city will continue inspection over food stores and markets in the coming days.
Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Hanoi Health Department, said the number of hospitalized acute diarrhea patients is reducing, from around 100 patients a day in early April to 5-10 patients in recent days.
(Source: TP)
HCM City turns off 50% of public lights
The city has issued an instruction on power savings, under which 50% of public lights along streets and on parks will be turned off. However, traffic lights will not be turned off.
The city also asked families to restrict using electric equipment during the peak hours (6-10pm) and factories to reasonably arrange production activities.
(Source: Tuoi Tre)
Justice Ministry surveys appointment process in Ca Mau
The Chief Inspector of the Justice Ministry, Nguyen Sy Cuong, led a working group to the southern province of Ca Mau on April 28 to learn of the province’s appointment process.
Today, inspectors will work with officials of the Organizational Board of the Ca Mau Party Committee.
The inspection trip is conducted after the province’s Party Chief received VND100 million in bribes from an unnamed person to solicit for a position in the local government.
(Source: TP)
Faked medicines increases year by year
The volume of faked drugs is raising yearly on the market, reported the Vietnam Drug Administration. Last year faked medicines accounted for 3.30% of tested samples, the highest ratio in the past seven years.
Dr. Truong Quoc Cuong, Head of the Vietnam Drug Administration, said at a conference on developing the pharmaceutical industry held in Hanoi last week, that the Vietnamese pharmaceutical market reached $1.13 billion last year and it will reach $1.34 billion this year. Locally-made medicine volume satisfies 52.86% of the total demand.
Vietnamese drug producers have produced 27 groups of medicines under the World Health Organization’s classification. However, the local pharmaceutical industry is developing spontaneously.
There are some kinds of medicines are in surplus while many others must be imported. More than 90% of materials serving the pharmaceutical industry are imported.
Though a drug distributions system has been set up, the health sector can’t completely control drug prices on the market.
According to the Vietnam Drug Administration, drug prices will slightly increase from now to the year end due to the price increase of materials and inputs.
The Health Ministry said it is a top priority to develop the pharmaceutical industry to meet the need for drugs of Vietnamese people in the future and to stabilize the drug market.
Truong Sa archipelago marks 33rd liberation day
14:16' 29/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – A celebration has been held by the central Khanh Hoa province’s People’s Committee and the Navy Command to mark the 33rd anniversary of the liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago (Spratly).
Over the past 33 years, the local people and army have overcome difficulties to achieve socio-economic development and national defence and security targets.
The locals now produce their own green vegetables and have access to clean water. They have developed their islands into more beautiful, environmentally hygienic and strong regions, contributing to the country’s renewal.
The celebration saw the Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton island communes and Truong Sa Town presented with certificates of merit for their success in completing tasks in 2007.
VietNamNet Bridge – A celebration has been held by the central Khanh Hoa province’s People’s Committee and the Navy Command to mark the 33rd anniversary of the liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago (Spratly).
Over the past 33 years, the local people and army have overcome difficulties to achieve socio-economic development and national defence and security targets.
The locals now produce their own green vegetables and have access to clean water. They have developed their islands into more beautiful, environmentally hygienic and strong regions, contributing to the country’s renewal.
The celebration saw the Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton island communes and Truong Sa Town presented with certificates of merit for their success in completing tasks in 2007.
Japanese ODA projects benefit HCM City
13:46' 29/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society President Wada Sadao of the Japanese Kansai region has pledged to boost cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City, especially investment in urban and liquid waste treatment projects.
Wada Sadao, who is also President of the Medium- and Small Enterprises Association of the Kansai region, made the promises during his meeting with HCM City People’s Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan on April 27.
As the head of a 22-strong Japanese business mission on a field trip to Vietnam, Sadao also promised to report Vietnam ’s drastic growth to his Prime Minister for stronger investment into the Southeast Asian country.
Chairman Quan told his guest that Japanese ODA projects are making great contributions to Vietnam’s largest economic hub. He said the Tan Son Nhat airport is now one of the 100 busiest in the world and the Thu Thiem tunnel is the most modern in Southeast Asia. Other projects such as the East- West avenue, the Metro 1 system and a liquid waste treatment factory have all been significant to the city’s economy.
Japan is the largest donor of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam.
VietNamNet Bridge – Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society President Wada Sadao of the Japanese Kansai region has pledged to boost cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City, especially investment in urban and liquid waste treatment projects.
Wada Sadao, who is also President of the Medium- and Small Enterprises Association of the Kansai region, made the promises during his meeting with HCM City People’s Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan on April 27.
As the head of a 22-strong Japanese business mission on a field trip to Vietnam, Sadao also promised to report Vietnam ’s drastic growth to his Prime Minister for stronger investment into the Southeast Asian country.
Chairman Quan told his guest that Japanese ODA projects are making great contributions to Vietnam’s largest economic hub. He said the Tan Son Nhat airport is now one of the 100 busiest in the world and the Thu Thiem tunnel is the most modern in Southeast Asia. Other projects such as the East- West avenue, the Metro 1 system and a liquid waste treatment factory have all been significant to the city’s economy.
Japan is the largest donor of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam.
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