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.
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
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.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Illegal strikes making investment environment worse
16:51' 28/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam does not lack laws to deal with strikes, but it lacks a mechanism to implement the laws effectively.
Illegal strikes are still taking place in many industrial zones and export processing zones in southern cities and provinces, and are making Vietnam’s investment environment less attractive in the eyes of foreign investors.
Alain Cany, Chairman of EuroCham, has recently expressed his concern over the illegal strikes that have taken place at some foreign invested enterprises (footwear, garment, furniture).
He said that EuroCham has been receiving more and more reports from its members about illegal strikes. These are strikes that do not follow the procedures stipulated by the amended Labour Code. Most of the strikes have occurred because labourers want higher pay in the face of the higher inflation.
EuroCham well understands that labourers have the right to go on strike and shares the concerns about inflation, but it has called on local authorities to take action to make the regulations on strikes stipulated by the Labour Code respected, Mr Cany said.
A lot of foreign investors are worried that the number of strikes will increase in accordance with the inflation rates.
According to state management agencies, labourers have gone on strike recently because they have complaints about wages, extra working hours and other unsatisfactory treatment.
In fact, the strike mushrooming began at the end of 2006, and since then, state management agencies have been considering drawing up necessary measures to cool the strikes down.
In an effort to clean the investment environment and ease worries of foreign investors, the government promulgated Decree No 11 on compensation for employers for damages caused by illegal strikes.
Under the decree, employers have the right to ask trade unions or representatives of labourers to compensate them for damages caused by illegal strikes. The employers have the right to initiate legal proceedings at district courts where strikes occur if the representatives of labourers refuse to make negotiations.
However, experts have pointed out that the decree can only help a little in dealing with illegal strikes. They stressed that it is necessary for labourers and employers to sign collective agreements, as the labour laws just provide the frame for all types of enterprises.
Meanwhile, according to the Vietnam Labour Union, collective agreements have not been used popularly (70% of state owned enterprises, over 10% of foreign invested enterprises, and less than 5% of private enterprises).
An official of the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said that Vietnam does not lack laws to settle strikes, just a mechanism to bring the laws into full play.
VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam does not lack laws to deal with strikes, but it lacks a mechanism to implement the laws effectively.
Illegal strikes are still taking place in many industrial zones and export processing zones in southern cities and provinces, and are making Vietnam’s investment environment less attractive in the eyes of foreign investors.
Alain Cany, Chairman of EuroCham, has recently expressed his concern over the illegal strikes that have taken place at some foreign invested enterprises (footwear, garment, furniture).
He said that EuroCham has been receiving more and more reports from its members about illegal strikes. These are strikes that do not follow the procedures stipulated by the amended Labour Code. Most of the strikes have occurred because labourers want higher pay in the face of the higher inflation.
EuroCham well understands that labourers have the right to go on strike and shares the concerns about inflation, but it has called on local authorities to take action to make the regulations on strikes stipulated by the Labour Code respected, Mr Cany said.
A lot of foreign investors are worried that the number of strikes will increase in accordance with the inflation rates.
According to state management agencies, labourers have gone on strike recently because they have complaints about wages, extra working hours and other unsatisfactory treatment.
In fact, the strike mushrooming began at the end of 2006, and since then, state management agencies have been considering drawing up necessary measures to cool the strikes down.
In an effort to clean the investment environment and ease worries of foreign investors, the government promulgated Decree No 11 on compensation for employers for damages caused by illegal strikes.
Under the decree, employers have the right to ask trade unions or representatives of labourers to compensate them for damages caused by illegal strikes. The employers have the right to initiate legal proceedings at district courts where strikes occur if the representatives of labourers refuse to make negotiations.
However, experts have pointed out that the decree can only help a little in dealing with illegal strikes. They stressed that it is necessary for labourers and employers to sign collective agreements, as the labour laws just provide the frame for all types of enterprises.
Meanwhile, according to the Vietnam Labour Union, collective agreements have not been used popularly (70% of state owned enterprises, over 10% of foreign invested enterprises, and less than 5% of private enterprises).
An official of the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said that Vietnam does not lack laws to settle strikes, just a mechanism to bring the laws into full play.
Ha Giang to hunt down human traffickers
21:42' 28/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – An increase in kidnapping cases involving children and women in the northern province of Ha Giang has caused concern among the local police force.
The victims were being sent to China, where they were sold or forced to work.
Children take part in a drawing contest during a campaign to fight child trafficking.
According to a provincial border post, the kidnappers stake out their intended victims. In one case, the criminals waited until the right time to abduct an ethnic minority woman who was working on a field alone and far from her home. She was taken away by kidnappers armed with a gun and knives without any chance to escape.
The kidnapping gangs include Chinese and local people. Chinese criminals were responsible for kidnapping and taking victims away, while their Vietnamese accomplices were assigned with searching for victims and keeping them under surveillance.
Late last year, two Mong ethnic minority people were brought to court after being charged with tricking a local woman into being sold to a Chinese man.
Ly Phay Sinh, 26 and Ly Mi Sung, 22, were only detained by officers at Lung Cu border post, in Dong Van District, when a trafficking victim informed authorities about the identities of the men.
Sinh said he had helped trick Giang Thi V. into being abducted across the border to China where she would have to work as a prostitute.
Vulnerable area
Nong Minh Thach, deputy head of Lung Cu border post, said slash and burn farming had forced many local people in the region, where 80% of the population belonged to Mong ethnic group, to work far from home.
"If women are kidnapped, it’s because they are working in areas near the border where there are few passers-by," said Thach.
So it’s difficult for Vietnamese police to investigate and find out who the kidnappers are as well as who has been kidnapped.
Women who have escaped and returned to Vietnam tell some shocking stories.
Many are forced to work hard on farms during the day, while at night they must have sex with the men who have bought them.
The extent of the problem is reflected in some cases where the victims of kidnapping and human trafficking were the relatives or family members of the criminals.
Ha Giang Province’s Border Post uncovered 25 cases of women being trafficked last year.
Children abducted
Colonel Dang Quang Huy, from the political work office of Ha Giang Province’s Border Post, said children were being kidnapped as well.
"Kidnapped children are passed over the border and sold to Chinese families that have a decent income but have few or no children," said Huy.
"Each child costs from between VND20mil to VND30mil, however the price depends on the agility and intelligence of the child."
"Traffickers sell women, who are usually aged from 17 to 30, for about VND20mil each, depending on if the buyer wants a wife or a labourer," said Huy.
Poverty, poor education and little ability for self-protection were also leading to an increase in kidnapping cases, he said.
Since 2000, Ha Giang Province’s border army has been informed about 40 cases of child kidnapping.
These victims were mainly boys who were kidnapped in communes located near border gates in Dong Van, Yen Minh and Meo Vac districts.
A local police officer said criminals were ruthless enough to release a one-year-old child in a remote forest after they discovered the victim was a girl.
According to local police, criminals took advantage of local people’s trust. They would persuade their victims to let them come inside their homes, and waiting for the best opportunity, would kidnap children and threaten to kill family members if their activities were uncovered.
Last December, two masked kidnappers broke into the house of Ho Mia Dia, in Seo Lung Village of Lung Cu District, while she was alone with her one-month-age son.
The kidnappers forcibly took the child from his mother and escaped quickly. Although local police were alerted immediately, the kidnappers fled with their victim to China.
VietNamNet Bridge – An increase in kidnapping cases involving children and women in the northern province of Ha Giang has caused concern among the local police force.
The victims were being sent to China, where they were sold or forced to work.
Children take part in a drawing contest during a campaign to fight child trafficking.
According to a provincial border post, the kidnappers stake out their intended victims. In one case, the criminals waited until the right time to abduct an ethnic minority woman who was working on a field alone and far from her home. She was taken away by kidnappers armed with a gun and knives without any chance to escape.
The kidnapping gangs include Chinese and local people. Chinese criminals were responsible for kidnapping and taking victims away, while their Vietnamese accomplices were assigned with searching for victims and keeping them under surveillance.
Late last year, two Mong ethnic minority people were brought to court after being charged with tricking a local woman into being sold to a Chinese man.
Ly Phay Sinh, 26 and Ly Mi Sung, 22, were only detained by officers at Lung Cu border post, in Dong Van District, when a trafficking victim informed authorities about the identities of the men.
Sinh said he had helped trick Giang Thi V. into being abducted across the border to China where she would have to work as a prostitute.
Vulnerable area
Nong Minh Thach, deputy head of Lung Cu border post, said slash and burn farming had forced many local people in the region, where 80% of the population belonged to Mong ethnic group, to work far from home.
"If women are kidnapped, it’s because they are working in areas near the border where there are few passers-by," said Thach.
So it’s difficult for Vietnamese police to investigate and find out who the kidnappers are as well as who has been kidnapped.
Women who have escaped and returned to Vietnam tell some shocking stories.
Many are forced to work hard on farms during the day, while at night they must have sex with the men who have bought them.
The extent of the problem is reflected in some cases where the victims of kidnapping and human trafficking were the relatives or family members of the criminals.
Ha Giang Province’s Border Post uncovered 25 cases of women being trafficked last year.
Children abducted
Colonel Dang Quang Huy, from the political work office of Ha Giang Province’s Border Post, said children were being kidnapped as well.
"Kidnapped children are passed over the border and sold to Chinese families that have a decent income but have few or no children," said Huy.
"Each child costs from between VND20mil to VND30mil, however the price depends on the agility and intelligence of the child."
"Traffickers sell women, who are usually aged from 17 to 30, for about VND20mil each, depending on if the buyer wants a wife or a labourer," said Huy.
Poverty, poor education and little ability for self-protection were also leading to an increase in kidnapping cases, he said.
Since 2000, Ha Giang Province’s border army has been informed about 40 cases of child kidnapping.
These victims were mainly boys who were kidnapped in communes located near border gates in Dong Van, Yen Minh and Meo Vac districts.
A local police officer said criminals were ruthless enough to release a one-year-old child in a remote forest after they discovered the victim was a girl.
According to local police, criminals took advantage of local people’s trust. They would persuade their victims to let them come inside their homes, and waiting for the best opportunity, would kidnap children and threaten to kill family members if their activities were uncovered.
Last December, two masked kidnappers broke into the house of Ho Mia Dia, in Seo Lung Village of Lung Cu District, while she was alone with her one-month-age son.
The kidnappers forcibly took the child from his mother and escaped quickly. Although local police were alerted immediately, the kidnappers fled with their victim to China.
Too many people, not enough jobs
12:41' 28/04/2008 (GMT+7)
A rapidly growing population is outpacing efforts to create employment
Rapid population has affected the country's capacity to generate jobs in the 2006-10 period, according to Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hoa.
About 1.6mil go in search of a job every year. Meanwhile, the nation's population is growing by more than a million annually.
The population has been increasing annually by more than 1%, and more than 1mil people annually reach a working age, Hoa told representatives at a national conference held last week in Da Nang City. The conference looked at implementing an employment programme and the Law on Vietnamese people working overseas under contract.
Hoa said the national target programme on employment aimed to secure jobs for about 49.5mil of people by 2010 and create new jobs for 8mil people in the 2006-10 period. The rate of unemployment was expected to reduce by 5% by 2010.
In 2006 and 2007, the Government approved an additional fund of VND485bil ($US30.3mil) for a national employment fund allocated to 64 cities and provinces nation-wide and social and political organisations. In that period, more than 160,000 labourers were sent to work abroad.
At the conference, representatives from localities, enterprises and employment service centres asked relevant sectors to complete policies and regulations on labour and employment, revising articles from the Labour Code and from the Law on Minimum Salary. The representatives also said that it was necessary to develop a Law on Employment.
Participants also discussed ways to develop the domestic labour market and expand the foreign market, while strengthening check-ups and management of projects under the national target programme.
According to Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, the country's economy has developed in more than 20 years of doi moi (renewal), but is not yet stable and is only minimally competitive. The unemployment rate in urban areas was still high at 5.10% in 2006.
The country's population is expected to reach 89mil by 2010. With the working population increasing at a speed of 2.4-2.5% each year, there are about 1.6mil people in need of employment annually.
A rapidly growing population is outpacing efforts to create employment
Rapid population has affected the country's capacity to generate jobs in the 2006-10 period, according to Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hoa.
About 1.6mil go in search of a job every year. Meanwhile, the nation's population is growing by more than a million annually.
The population has been increasing annually by more than 1%, and more than 1mil people annually reach a working age, Hoa told representatives at a national conference held last week in Da Nang City. The conference looked at implementing an employment programme and the Law on Vietnamese people working overseas under contract.
Hoa said the national target programme on employment aimed to secure jobs for about 49.5mil of people by 2010 and create new jobs for 8mil people in the 2006-10 period. The rate of unemployment was expected to reduce by 5% by 2010.
In 2006 and 2007, the Government approved an additional fund of VND485bil ($US30.3mil) for a national employment fund allocated to 64 cities and provinces nation-wide and social and political organisations. In that period, more than 160,000 labourers were sent to work abroad.
At the conference, representatives from localities, enterprises and employment service centres asked relevant sectors to complete policies and regulations on labour and employment, revising articles from the Labour Code and from the Law on Minimum Salary. The representatives also said that it was necessary to develop a Law on Employment.
Participants also discussed ways to develop the domestic labour market and expand the foreign market, while strengthening check-ups and management of projects under the national target programme.
According to Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, the country's economy has developed in more than 20 years of doi moi (renewal), but is not yet stable and is only minimally competitive. The unemployment rate in urban areas was still high at 5.10% in 2006.
The country's population is expected to reach 89mil by 2010. With the working population increasing at a speed of 2.4-2.5% each year, there are about 1.6mil people in need of employment annually.
City launches multipronged plan to fight inflation
16:54' 28/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – The city government has initiated several measures to curb inflation and keep prices in check on essential goods.
Among the measures is a request to companies to boost factory production, lower the cost of raw material inputs, and reduce the hoarding of essential goods.
The trade sector has asked Vissan, the country's largest producer of processed meat products, to keep prices stable until June.
Trade officials said the company had enough meat imports to meet increasing demand for processed foods until the end of the year.
The city's food companies have been urged to regularly stockpile around 2,000 tonnes of rice to ensure food security.
The city's Union of Trading Co-operatives, its supermarkets and trading centres have arranged to cut prices on commodities to ensure that prices remain lower than the market price.
The city will also not increase fees for hospitals and public transport such as buses and ferries.
The city will also earmark VND1tril (US$62.5mil) from the local budget to help enterprises boost production and market products to reduce the price of daily essentials by 5-10%.
Recent price hikes
In the last few days, the price of essential consumer goods, such as paper and cement, has increased sharply.
The price of paper has soared to more than VND17mil a tonne, a record level.
The construction industry is now facing a hike in cement prices. For example, the price of a 50-kilo bag of Ha Tien cement rose by 20% to VND67,000.
Despite the price hike, a cement shortage remains because of the construction boom in recent months.
Phan Thi Kim Hoa, marketing manager of Ha Tien 1 Cement Company, blamed the recent hike on the increase in cost of materials, transport fees and building materials.
Prices of daily essentials such as rice, meat and milk have risen, leading to financial hardship for low-income residents and the poor.
VietNamNet Bridge – The city government has initiated several measures to curb inflation and keep prices in check on essential goods.
Among the measures is a request to companies to boost factory production, lower the cost of raw material inputs, and reduce the hoarding of essential goods.
The trade sector has asked Vissan, the country's largest producer of processed meat products, to keep prices stable until June.
Trade officials said the company had enough meat imports to meet increasing demand for processed foods until the end of the year.
The city's food companies have been urged to regularly stockpile around 2,000 tonnes of rice to ensure food security.
The city's Union of Trading Co-operatives, its supermarkets and trading centres have arranged to cut prices on commodities to ensure that prices remain lower than the market price.
The city will also not increase fees for hospitals and public transport such as buses and ferries.
The city will also earmark VND1tril (US$62.5mil) from the local budget to help enterprises boost production and market products to reduce the price of daily essentials by 5-10%.
Recent price hikes
In the last few days, the price of essential consumer goods, such as paper and cement, has increased sharply.
The price of paper has soared to more than VND17mil a tonne, a record level.
The construction industry is now facing a hike in cement prices. For example, the price of a 50-kilo bag of Ha Tien cement rose by 20% to VND67,000.
Despite the price hike, a cement shortage remains because of the construction boom in recent months.
Phan Thi Kim Hoa, marketing manager of Ha Tien 1 Cement Company, blamed the recent hike on the increase in cost of materials, transport fees and building materials.
Prices of daily essentials such as rice, meat and milk have risen, leading to financial hardship for low-income residents and the poor.
Nation gets on board global campaign to defeat malaria
16:33' 28/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – A campaign to prevent and treat malaria were launched throughout Vietnam on Friday.
The campaign was part of the World Health Organisation's first global day - Friday, April 25, - to publicise the dangers of mosquito-borne scourge.
The day's theme was "Malaria - a disease without borders" and its purpose was to provide "education and understanding of malaria."
In Vietnam, the focus is the dissemination of information about malaria and enhanced monitoring in the high-risk Central Highlands, central provinces, the southeast and some northern highland provinces.
Mosquito nets will be provided free to 11mil people in mosquito-prone regions and repellent sprayed. Central Quang Tri Province's Preventive Medicine Centre reports that not many inhabitants use mosquito nets although more than two have been distributed free to each household.
Only about 30% of inhabitants sleep under mosquito nets in some communes.
Nets for drugs
Some people even swap their free mosquito nets for drugs," said northern highland Lai Chau Province Health Department director Do Cong Huan.
The director said resistance to anti-malaria drugs was on the rise throughout country and the public healthcare network covered only 80% of remote Vietnam.
More than 32% of Vietnamese, or 20mil people, live with the disease.
The director warned of a potential malaria epidemic with the arrival of the wet season. Vietnam will spend VND145bil - more than US$9.06mil - to prevent and treat, malaria this year, says National Entomology Institute director Nguyen Manh Hung.
The money will be used to reduce the mortality and infection rate by at least 5% against last year.
This means deaths from malaria are expected to fall below 0.02 per 100,000 people and infection below 0.8 per 100,000 people.
Almost 72,000 Vietnamese were infected with malaria last year and 20 died.
The number of fatalities was almost 90% less than in 2000.
VietNamNet Bridge – A campaign to prevent and treat malaria were launched throughout Vietnam on Friday.
The campaign was part of the World Health Organisation's first global day - Friday, April 25, - to publicise the dangers of mosquito-borne scourge.
The day's theme was "Malaria - a disease without borders" and its purpose was to provide "education and understanding of malaria."
In Vietnam, the focus is the dissemination of information about malaria and enhanced monitoring in the high-risk Central Highlands, central provinces, the southeast and some northern highland provinces.
Mosquito nets will be provided free to 11mil people in mosquito-prone regions and repellent sprayed. Central Quang Tri Province's Preventive Medicine Centre reports that not many inhabitants use mosquito nets although more than two have been distributed free to each household.
Only about 30% of inhabitants sleep under mosquito nets in some communes.
Nets for drugs
Some people even swap their free mosquito nets for drugs," said northern highland Lai Chau Province Health Department director Do Cong Huan.
The director said resistance to anti-malaria drugs was on the rise throughout country and the public healthcare network covered only 80% of remote Vietnam.
More than 32% of Vietnamese, or 20mil people, live with the disease.
The director warned of a potential malaria epidemic with the arrival of the wet season. Vietnam will spend VND145bil - more than US$9.06mil - to prevent and treat, malaria this year, says National Entomology Institute director Nguyen Manh Hung.
The money will be used to reduce the mortality and infection rate by at least 5% against last year.
This means deaths from malaria are expected to fall below 0.02 per 100,000 people and infection below 0.8 per 100,000 people.
Almost 72,000 Vietnamese were infected with malaria last year and 20 died.
The number of fatalities was almost 90% less than in 2000.
Wages leave many factory workers in poverty
21:53' 28/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – The Government is being urged to adjust the poverty line to support many workers who are struggling to make ends meet in industrial zones along the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.
Workers process seafood for export at Tra Noc Industrial Zone in Can Tho Province. A new poverty-line standard should be issued to help these workers have a better living standard.
Having worked for one and a half years at the Ty Xuan Company producing leather shoes in Hoa Phu Industrial Zone in Vinh Long Province, Nguyen Thi Phuc has recently had her wages boosted from VND710,000 (US$44) to VND860,000 ($53) per month. But even with this raise, Phuc says supporting herself and her young family is a daily struggle.
Every month, she has to hand over VND300,000 ($18) for her boarding house and VND300,000 for her child to attend a private kindergarten. "The remaining VND260,000 ($16) doesn’t cover food for the month, and inflation has meant prices have gone up a lot recently."
To make enough money to survive, Phuc has to work overtime at VND6,000 ($0.37) per hour. "Most of the time we just eat rice and vegetables. I can only afford some meat or fish once a week," she said.
Phuc’s story is a familiar one among workers in the industrial zones, areas known as the cornerstones to the nation’s economic development.
According to Nguyen Thanh De, a worker in Tra Noc 1 Industrial Zone in Can Tho Province, his monthly income of VND1.4mil ($87) only just covers basic essentials. There’s no way he can save anything.
President of the Trade Union of industrial zones in Vinh Long Province Nguyen Thanh Nhan agrees. "A lot of male workers told me that because they can’t save money, they dare not plan to get married."
Bread and board
Part of the problem is the cost of renting accommodation. In Hoa Phu Industrial Zone, Vinh Long Province, no companies provide their workers with accommodation and about 60% of workers IZ have to live in boarding houses. Prices range from VND280,000 to VND360,000 ($16-$22) per room, or VND60,000 to VND80,000 (up to $5) per bed. This is a considerable burden on their wages.
In 2006, the Trade Union in Can Tho City put forward a project to build 1,000 apartments for low-income workers in the city. Under the plan, workers would pay rent monthly, and after 10 years could be owner of the apartment. But in March 2008, the city’s People’s Committee issued a document stating that due to a limited budget, the proposal had to be scrapped.
Social services
Underlying the problems faced by factory workers is the fact that their incomes do not fall below the poverty line, rendering them unable to claim social services.
Workers’ standard of living should be taken into account based on practical conditions, vice director of Rach Mieu Bridge Company in Ben Tre Province Ha Ngoc Nam says. "Businesses should not be responsible for raising wages if they are adhering to Government policies on the minimum wage. There should be a poverty line applied to workers."
Vice President of the Trade Union office in Ben Tre Province, Tran Trung Hao, agrees. "Workers in IZs have a hard life. According to the current criteria, workers are not classed as living below the poverty line. So in the past ten years, the Fund for the Poor has never helped workers improve their temporary housing. Despite rising inflation, the average monthly income for workers in IZs is only VND1.3mil to VND1.4mil (up to $87)."
The importance of calculating the poverty line according to practical conditions is vital to helping those most in need. The fundamental reason for this is in rural areas, farmers may be poor but they still have a house and the cost of living expenses is a lot cheaper. In contrast, workers in urban areas have to pay for their own accommodation and the prices of daily essentials are substantially higher.
According to statistics provided by the Department of Economic and Social Policies from the Ministry of Trade Union in Can Tho Province, 97.85% of workers in Can Tho Industrial Zone said workers should be provided with accommodation. Nearly 90% said firms needed to do this if they wanted to keep hold of their employees for the long term.
VietNamNet Bridge – The Government is being urged to adjust the poverty line to support many workers who are struggling to make ends meet in industrial zones along the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.
Workers process seafood for export at Tra Noc Industrial Zone in Can Tho Province. A new poverty-line standard should be issued to help these workers have a better living standard.
Having worked for one and a half years at the Ty Xuan Company producing leather shoes in Hoa Phu Industrial Zone in Vinh Long Province, Nguyen Thi Phuc has recently had her wages boosted from VND710,000 (US$44) to VND860,000 ($53) per month. But even with this raise, Phuc says supporting herself and her young family is a daily struggle.
Every month, she has to hand over VND300,000 ($18) for her boarding house and VND300,000 for her child to attend a private kindergarten. "The remaining VND260,000 ($16) doesn’t cover food for the month, and inflation has meant prices have gone up a lot recently."
To make enough money to survive, Phuc has to work overtime at VND6,000 ($0.37) per hour. "Most of the time we just eat rice and vegetables. I can only afford some meat or fish once a week," she said.
Phuc’s story is a familiar one among workers in the industrial zones, areas known as the cornerstones to the nation’s economic development.
According to Nguyen Thanh De, a worker in Tra Noc 1 Industrial Zone in Can Tho Province, his monthly income of VND1.4mil ($87) only just covers basic essentials. There’s no way he can save anything.
President of the Trade Union of industrial zones in Vinh Long Province Nguyen Thanh Nhan agrees. "A lot of male workers told me that because they can’t save money, they dare not plan to get married."
Bread and board
Part of the problem is the cost of renting accommodation. In Hoa Phu Industrial Zone, Vinh Long Province, no companies provide their workers with accommodation and about 60% of workers IZ have to live in boarding houses. Prices range from VND280,000 to VND360,000 ($16-$22) per room, or VND60,000 to VND80,000 (up to $5) per bed. This is a considerable burden on their wages.
In 2006, the Trade Union in Can Tho City put forward a project to build 1,000 apartments for low-income workers in the city. Under the plan, workers would pay rent monthly, and after 10 years could be owner of the apartment. But in March 2008, the city’s People’s Committee issued a document stating that due to a limited budget, the proposal had to be scrapped.
Social services
Underlying the problems faced by factory workers is the fact that their incomes do not fall below the poverty line, rendering them unable to claim social services.
Workers’ standard of living should be taken into account based on practical conditions, vice director of Rach Mieu Bridge Company in Ben Tre Province Ha Ngoc Nam says. "Businesses should not be responsible for raising wages if they are adhering to Government policies on the minimum wage. There should be a poverty line applied to workers."
Vice President of the Trade Union office in Ben Tre Province, Tran Trung Hao, agrees. "Workers in IZs have a hard life. According to the current criteria, workers are not classed as living below the poverty line. So in the past ten years, the Fund for the Poor has never helped workers improve their temporary housing. Despite rising inflation, the average monthly income for workers in IZs is only VND1.3mil to VND1.4mil (up to $87)."
The importance of calculating the poverty line according to practical conditions is vital to helping those most in need. The fundamental reason for this is in rural areas, farmers may be poor but they still have a house and the cost of living expenses is a lot cheaper. In contrast, workers in urban areas have to pay for their own accommodation and the prices of daily essentials are substantially higher.
According to statistics provided by the Department of Economic and Social Policies from the Ministry of Trade Union in Can Tho Province, 97.85% of workers in Can Tho Industrial Zone said workers should be provided with accommodation. Nearly 90% said firms needed to do this if they wanted to keep hold of their employees for the long term.
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s review made debut
22:33' 27/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee and the Hanoi Buddhist Institute introduced the first issue of “Khuong Viet” Review to the public at a press conference in Hanoi on April 26.
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, Permanent Vice President of the VBS Central Committee and editor-in-chief of “Khuong Viet” Review, told the press that the first issue of Khuong Viet Review was published on the occasion of the 6th National Congress of the VBS.
The quarterly review was named after Buddhist monk Khuong Viet (933-1011), who was a brilliant politician, diplomat, and national security advisor of the country in the 10th century.
With the principle of studying and making knowledge and cultural value of Buddhism popular, the review will provide readers with Buddha’s teachings and information about religious activities of the VBS Central Committee and local VBS committees as well as historic and cultural relics
VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee and the Hanoi Buddhist Institute introduced the first issue of “Khuong Viet” Review to the public at a press conference in Hanoi on April 26.
Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, Permanent Vice President of the VBS Central Committee and editor-in-chief of “Khuong Viet” Review, told the press that the first issue of Khuong Viet Review was published on the occasion of the 6th National Congress of the VBS.
The quarterly review was named after Buddhist monk Khuong Viet (933-1011), who was a brilliant politician, diplomat, and national security advisor of the country in the 10th century.
With the principle of studying and making knowledge and cultural value of Buddhism popular, the review will provide readers with Buddha’s teachings and information about religious activities of the VBS Central Committee and local VBS committees as well as historic and cultural relics
New plant should ease HCM City’s water shortage
22:08' 27/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Construction began on April 25 on a new water treatment plant, which is expected to reduce the water shortfall in suburban districts and industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Water and Environment Joint-Stock Company ( WACO ), which specializes in engineering, procurement and construction of water and wastewater treatment plants, will build the plant.
The 216 billion VND (13.5 million USD) water treatment plant and its 13 km-long pipeline system is part of the Kenh Dong Water Supply System project in Thuong Hamlet, Tan Thong Hoi Commune, Cu Chi District.
The Kenh Dong Water Supply Joint-Stock Company provided the funds for the plant.
Major components include a raw water intake pumping station, a filter tank, a 20,000 cu.m reinforced concrete reservoir, and a water pumping station.
Upon completion by September next year, the plant will treat raw water taken from Tay Ninh province’s Dau Tieng Lake through Kenh Dong Canal, with a capacity of 200,000 cu.m per day.
VietNamNet Bridge – Construction began on April 25 on a new water treatment plant, which is expected to reduce the water shortfall in suburban districts and industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Water and Environment Joint-Stock Company ( WACO ), which specializes in engineering, procurement and construction of water and wastewater treatment plants, will build the plant.
The 216 billion VND (13.5 million USD) water treatment plant and its 13 km-long pipeline system is part of the Kenh Dong Water Supply System project in Thuong Hamlet, Tan Thong Hoi Commune, Cu Chi District.
The Kenh Dong Water Supply Joint-Stock Company provided the funds for the plant.
Major components include a raw water intake pumping station, a filter tank, a 20,000 cu.m reinforced concrete reservoir, and a water pumping station.
Upon completion by September next year, the plant will treat raw water taken from Tay Ninh province’s Dau Tieng Lake through Kenh Dong Canal, with a capacity of 200,000 cu.m per day.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Ten more people tested positive for cholera
16:05' 25/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Ten more people were tested positive for cholera, with an additional 60 more people suffering from acute diarrhoea on April 23, said the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment.
The ten people had been hospitalised some days earlier, but their sample test results were just announced on April 23.
Dr Nguyen Duc Hien, director of the National Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, said that cholera virus had resisted two of four traditional anti-biotic medicines, which used to be used for cholera treatment.
A recent survey states that there are around 1,000 acute diarrhoea infected places in Hanoi with 44 people infected with cholera.
The city's authorities are determined to have contained the epidemic by April 30.
VietNamNet Bridge - Ten more people were tested positive for cholera, with an additional 60 more people suffering from acute diarrhoea on April 23, said the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment.
The ten people had been hospitalised some days earlier, but their sample test results were just announced on April 23.
Dr Nguyen Duc Hien, director of the National Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, said that cholera virus had resisted two of four traditional anti-biotic medicines, which used to be used for cholera treatment.
A recent survey states that there are around 1,000 acute diarrhoea infected places in Hanoi with 44 people infected with cholera.
The city's authorities are determined to have contained the epidemic by April 30.
Unsafe helmets to face ban
16:20' 25/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Safety helmets that hinder their wearer’s sight are to be banned.
The necessary regulations would be published next month, said Standards and Quality Committee deputy director Nguyen Minh Bang.
The new regulations would also require helmets to carry clearly printed information about their origin and other details.
The deputy director said the quality of rims that did not hinder their wearer’s sight would also be tested.
If proven unsafe, they too would be banned.
But tests showed that nine of ten hard-rimmed helmets did not meet the required safety standard, said the deputy director.
The need for the new standard stems from the proliferation of stylised helmets that worry safety officials, said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Quoc Thang.
Not only rimmed helmets but home-made helmets that vary in shape from peaked caps to oval.
"Hard-rimmed helmets create extra danger for their wearers in an accident," said the deputy minister.
The new regulation will require domestic helmet makers to provide their name; the name of the helmet and the date when it was made on their product. Imported helmets will have to carry their place of origin; the name and address of the importers; size and date of production.
The information will be printed on a quality stamp provided helmet importers and makers. — VNS
Proposed ban on ‘fancy’ helmets opposed
AScience and Technology Ministry draft proposal that would ban fancy safety helmets has raised the ire of scientists, consumer representatives and manufacturers.
The intended ban would apply to helmets other than those which hinder their wearer’s site.
"It’s necessary to have a sound scientific basis to clearly define which shapes in helmets should be banned," Southern Quality Management Agency official Pham Huu Cat.
"We should worry about the materials from which the helmets are made rather than their shape," said Southern Standard and Customer Protection Association director Nguyen Nam Vinh.
They should be allowed if they meet the quality standards, he said.
There were no regulations about the shape of safety helmets in other countries so experiments and research should be done before a style was banned, said scientist Nguyen Tri.
"We are businessmen so we have to meet the customer demand," said a Chi Thanh Helmet Enterprise representative.
Banning stylised helmets would be unreasonable, he said.
VietNamNet Bridge - Safety helmets that hinder their wearer’s sight are to be banned.
The necessary regulations would be published next month, said Standards and Quality Committee deputy director Nguyen Minh Bang.
The new regulations would also require helmets to carry clearly printed information about their origin and other details.
The deputy director said the quality of rims that did not hinder their wearer’s sight would also be tested.
If proven unsafe, they too would be banned.
But tests showed that nine of ten hard-rimmed helmets did not meet the required safety standard, said the deputy director.
The need for the new standard stems from the proliferation of stylised helmets that worry safety officials, said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Quoc Thang.
Not only rimmed helmets but home-made helmets that vary in shape from peaked caps to oval.
"Hard-rimmed helmets create extra danger for their wearers in an accident," said the deputy minister.
The new regulation will require domestic helmet makers to provide their name; the name of the helmet and the date when it was made on their product. Imported helmets will have to carry their place of origin; the name and address of the importers; size and date of production.
The information will be printed on a quality stamp provided helmet importers and makers. — VNS
Proposed ban on ‘fancy’ helmets opposed
AScience and Technology Ministry draft proposal that would ban fancy safety helmets has raised the ire of scientists, consumer representatives and manufacturers.
The intended ban would apply to helmets other than those which hinder their wearer’s site.
"It’s necessary to have a sound scientific basis to clearly define which shapes in helmets should be banned," Southern Quality Management Agency official Pham Huu Cat.
"We should worry about the materials from which the helmets are made rather than their shape," said Southern Standard and Customer Protection Association director Nguyen Nam Vinh.
They should be allowed if they meet the quality standards, he said.
There were no regulations about the shape of safety helmets in other countries so experiments and research should be done before a style was banned, said scientist Nguyen Tri.
"We are businessmen so we have to meet the customer demand," said a Chi Thanh Helmet Enterprise representative.
Banning stylised helmets would be unreasonable, he said.
European rules for motorbikes
17:31' 25/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Nation to impose strict new emission standards
All new motorbikes in the country will have to meet European emissions standard from July - despite the fact that there are currently no testing centres in the country, said Pham Quang Thanh from the Viet Nam Register.
Until suitable facilities become available here, Thanh said domestic manufacturers would have to send motorbikes assembled here abroad for emissions testing.
He said 10 verification foreign centres had so far been approved by the Government, including ones in China, Thailand and Japan.
The EURO 2 emissions' standard puts a limit on the amount of noxious fumes new motorbikes are permitted to release. The standard is currently applicable in the European Union.
In 2005, the Government published a decision to apply European standards to motorbikes in Vietnam from July 2008.
Enterprises are responsible for having their products verified according to the law, said To Duc Long from the Register.
However, he said officials would inspect motorbikes to ensure they met manufacturers' claims. Those who falsely claim that their vehicles meet EURO 2 standards will be punished, said Long.
Officers from the Viet Nam Register will inspect verification certificates, said department head Trinh Ngoc Giao.
Giao said a verification centre would open in Vietnam next year. He added that the department had spent five years trying to find a suitable site.
"At last, the department has been given the nod and the centre is now being built," said Giao, adding: "In the meantime, we will ensure that newly assembled motorbikes or bikes coming into Vietnam meet the EURO 2 standard."
Nation to impose strict new emission standards
All new motorbikes in the country will have to meet European emissions standard from July - despite the fact that there are currently no testing centres in the country, said Pham Quang Thanh from the Viet Nam Register.
Until suitable facilities become available here, Thanh said domestic manufacturers would have to send motorbikes assembled here abroad for emissions testing.
He said 10 verification foreign centres had so far been approved by the Government, including ones in China, Thailand and Japan.
The EURO 2 emissions' standard puts a limit on the amount of noxious fumes new motorbikes are permitted to release. The standard is currently applicable in the European Union.
In 2005, the Government published a decision to apply European standards to motorbikes in Vietnam from July 2008.
Enterprises are responsible for having their products verified according to the law, said To Duc Long from the Register.
However, he said officials would inspect motorbikes to ensure they met manufacturers' claims. Those who falsely claim that their vehicles meet EURO 2 standards will be punished, said Long.
Officers from the Viet Nam Register will inspect verification certificates, said department head Trinh Ngoc Giao.
Giao said a verification centre would open in Vietnam next year. He added that the department had spent five years trying to find a suitable site.
"At last, the department has been given the nod and the centre is now being built," said Giao, adding: "In the meantime, we will ensure that newly assembled motorbikes or bikes coming into Vietnam meet the EURO 2 standard."
SOCIAL IN BRIEF 25/4
15:53' 25/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Nearly 3 million people live in malarial areas
As malarial areas are large, nearly 30 million Vietnamese people (around 32% of the population) are living in these areas, including key economic development, mountainous, border and Central Highlands regions.
Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Director of the Central Institute for Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology, said that the number of people dying from malaria is falling year by year in Vietnam.
In 2007, Vietnam had only 20 people die of malaria, a reduction of nearly 90% compared to 2000 of the total 70,910 malaria patients. The Central Highlands has the highest number of malaria patients.
As of 2008, the World Health Organisation has designated April 25 as World Day for Malaria Prevention.
Le Ha
Hanoi opens only two streets for tourist cyclos
The Hanoi Department of Transport and Public Works has arranged two parking lots for tourist cyclos on Yen Phu road and Tran Quang Khai street.
The department has announced it will permit cyclos to run on two routes only as of April 25: a route around Hoan Kiem Lake and some ancient streets in the city’s hub and a route around Thang Long ancient citadel.
To prevent disruption of traffic, tourist cyclos are banned from running from 6.30-8.30 in the morning and 4.30-7 in the evening. Around 300 tourist cyclos are licenced in the capital city.
(Source: VNE)
HCM City holds drug prices
Local authorities have told the HCM City Department of Health to wait to give permission to pharmaceutical producers and traders in the city to raise medicine prices until June 30, 2008 under the Prime Minister’s guidance and the Health Ministry’s dispatch to stabilise prices in the market.
The department is also instructed to strictly control the declaration and list of drug prices to prevent speculation, monopoly or joint monopoly to cause unreal scarcity of medicines in the market to force prices up and to punish any violator.
(Source: Tien phong)
HCM City to have press groups
The city will select eligible newspapers in terms of human resources and finances to set up press groups on a trial basis, said Nguyen Tuan Viet, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information on April 24.
At a meeting to review eight years of implementing the Press Law in HCM City, HCM City’s Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Tai confirmed that the Party and the state always highly appreciate the role of the press in the renovation period, in social-economic development and international integration.
Viet said that the city will make more favourable conditions for the press to improve its quality and expand its operations in HCM City.
(Source: Tuoi Tre)
Transport Ministry considers Former Deputy Minister’s case
Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung said that the Ministry is considering the case of former Deputy Minister Nguyen Viet Tien, who has had some charges dropped against him in the PMU18 scandal. Previously Tien asked the ministry to reinstate him.
Dung said the Transport Ministry would have to ask for the government’s guidance to deal with this case. “We will report the case to the government in April 2008 but we can’t say when it will be finished,” Dung said.
Related to administrative penalties for Tien under the People’s Supreme Procuracy’s suggestion, Dung said Tien will be fined under the regulations, depending on his violations.
(Source: Tien Phong)
Vietnam to import 100,000 doses of blue ear vaccine
As blue ear epidemic is developing unpredictably, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed related agencies to import 100,000 doses of vaccine from China.
According to Dr. To Long Thanh, Deputy Director of the Central Institute for Veterinary Diagnosis, the vaccine will arrive in Vietnam on April 28. It will be allocated to provinces and cities which have the blue ear epidemic.
Vietnam has 27 million pigs, 17 million in the southern and 10 million in the northern regions.
By April 21, the disease had been reported in 657 communes of ten provinces, attacking 222,000 pigs, including over 221,300 culled, reported the Veterinary Agency.
(Source: Tien Phong)
US$3.2 billion for Can Tho-Kien Giang highway
The government has approved the construction of Can Tho 2 Bridge and a 160km highway that crosses the southern provinces of Can Tho and Kien Giang at a cost of $3.7 billion.
In the first phase of construction, the highway will have six lanes and eight lanes in the second phase, with road width of 95m. The highway will serve between 25,000 to 30,000 cars a day, which can run up to 120km/h. Of the total capital of $3.7 billion, $3.2 billion is for building the highway and $500 million for the Can Tho 2 Bridge, which crosses the Hau River.
The Can Tho-Kien Giang highway will be built in the build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode.
Minh Ha
Defendants in sex clip scandal to go on trial this May
Six months after discovering the culprits who put a sex clip of actress Hoang Thuy Linh on the Internet, the Hanoi People’s Procuracy has finalised its charges against the four, who are charged with spreading depraved culture under the Vietnamese Penal Code.
The four defendants are Nguyen Huu Tai, 24, student of FPT-Arena University; Vu Thi Thuy Linh, 22, student of private Thang Long University; Vo Thanh Hiep, 26, student of FPT University; and Nguyen Thu Linh, 22, student of London Fashion Training Centre in Hanoi.
According to the Hanoi People’s Procuracy’s indictment, the four above defendants uploaded a sex clip of Hoang Thuy Linh and her boyfriend on the internet last October, resulting in public outrage.
The case will go on trial in Hanoi this May.
T. Nhung
Thanh Hoa: Over 330,000 people face food shortage
Because of flooding in early October 2007 and the cold spells in early 2008, the central province of Thanh Hoa has suffered great losses of crops and animal husbandry. As a result, around 330,000 locals may face food shortages in the coming months.
The local authorities have asked the government to allocate rice to these people, totalling over 5,000 tonnes.
From October 2007 to April 2008, Thanh Hoa received rice relief three times, with a total volume of 9,000 tonnes.
Nearly 3 million people live in malarial areas
As malarial areas are large, nearly 30 million Vietnamese people (around 32% of the population) are living in these areas, including key economic development, mountainous, border and Central Highlands regions.
Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Director of the Central Institute for Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology, said that the number of people dying from malaria is falling year by year in Vietnam.
In 2007, Vietnam had only 20 people die of malaria, a reduction of nearly 90% compared to 2000 of the total 70,910 malaria patients. The Central Highlands has the highest number of malaria patients.
As of 2008, the World Health Organisation has designated April 25 as World Day for Malaria Prevention.
Le Ha
Hanoi opens only two streets for tourist cyclos
The Hanoi Department of Transport and Public Works has arranged two parking lots for tourist cyclos on Yen Phu road and Tran Quang Khai street.
The department has announced it will permit cyclos to run on two routes only as of April 25: a route around Hoan Kiem Lake and some ancient streets in the city’s hub and a route around Thang Long ancient citadel.
To prevent disruption of traffic, tourist cyclos are banned from running from 6.30-8.30 in the morning and 4.30-7 in the evening. Around 300 tourist cyclos are licenced in the capital city.
(Source: VNE)
HCM City holds drug prices
Local authorities have told the HCM City Department of Health to wait to give permission to pharmaceutical producers and traders in the city to raise medicine prices until June 30, 2008 under the Prime Minister’s guidance and the Health Ministry’s dispatch to stabilise prices in the market.
The department is also instructed to strictly control the declaration and list of drug prices to prevent speculation, monopoly or joint monopoly to cause unreal scarcity of medicines in the market to force prices up and to punish any violator.
(Source: Tien phong)
HCM City to have press groups
The city will select eligible newspapers in terms of human resources and finances to set up press groups on a trial basis, said Nguyen Tuan Viet, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information on April 24.
At a meeting to review eight years of implementing the Press Law in HCM City, HCM City’s Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Tai confirmed that the Party and the state always highly appreciate the role of the press in the renovation period, in social-economic development and international integration.
Viet said that the city will make more favourable conditions for the press to improve its quality and expand its operations in HCM City.
(Source: Tuoi Tre)
Transport Ministry considers Former Deputy Minister’s case
Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung said that the Ministry is considering the case of former Deputy Minister Nguyen Viet Tien, who has had some charges dropped against him in the PMU18 scandal. Previously Tien asked the ministry to reinstate him.
Dung said the Transport Ministry would have to ask for the government’s guidance to deal with this case. “We will report the case to the government in April 2008 but we can’t say when it will be finished,” Dung said.
Related to administrative penalties for Tien under the People’s Supreme Procuracy’s suggestion, Dung said Tien will be fined under the regulations, depending on his violations.
(Source: Tien Phong)
Vietnam to import 100,000 doses of blue ear vaccine
As blue ear epidemic is developing unpredictably, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed related agencies to import 100,000 doses of vaccine from China.
According to Dr. To Long Thanh, Deputy Director of the Central Institute for Veterinary Diagnosis, the vaccine will arrive in Vietnam on April 28. It will be allocated to provinces and cities which have the blue ear epidemic.
Vietnam has 27 million pigs, 17 million in the southern and 10 million in the northern regions.
By April 21, the disease had been reported in 657 communes of ten provinces, attacking 222,000 pigs, including over 221,300 culled, reported the Veterinary Agency.
(Source: Tien Phong)
US$3.2 billion for Can Tho-Kien Giang highway
The government has approved the construction of Can Tho 2 Bridge and a 160km highway that crosses the southern provinces of Can Tho and Kien Giang at a cost of $3.7 billion.
In the first phase of construction, the highway will have six lanes and eight lanes in the second phase, with road width of 95m. The highway will serve between 25,000 to 30,000 cars a day, which can run up to 120km/h. Of the total capital of $3.7 billion, $3.2 billion is for building the highway and $500 million for the Can Tho 2 Bridge, which crosses the Hau River.
The Can Tho-Kien Giang highway will be built in the build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode.
Minh Ha
Defendants in sex clip scandal to go on trial this May
Six months after discovering the culprits who put a sex clip of actress Hoang Thuy Linh on the Internet, the Hanoi People’s Procuracy has finalised its charges against the four, who are charged with spreading depraved culture under the Vietnamese Penal Code.
The four defendants are Nguyen Huu Tai, 24, student of FPT-Arena University; Vu Thi Thuy Linh, 22, student of private Thang Long University; Vo Thanh Hiep, 26, student of FPT University; and Nguyen Thu Linh, 22, student of London Fashion Training Centre in Hanoi.
According to the Hanoi People’s Procuracy’s indictment, the four above defendants uploaded a sex clip of Hoang Thuy Linh and her boyfriend on the internet last October, resulting in public outrage.
The case will go on trial in Hanoi this May.
T. Nhung
Thanh Hoa: Over 330,000 people face food shortage
Because of flooding in early October 2007 and the cold spells in early 2008, the central province of Thanh Hoa has suffered great losses of crops and animal husbandry. As a result, around 330,000 locals may face food shortages in the coming months.
The local authorities have asked the government to allocate rice to these people, totalling over 5,000 tonnes.
From October 2007 to April 2008, Thanh Hoa received rice relief three times, with a total volume of 9,000 tonnes.
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Caodaism sect pledges to follow religious policies
11:56' 23/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty dignitaries of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao, a sect of Caodaism, have confirmed their belief in Party and State’s religious policies and pledged to abide by the regulations.
The dignitaries, who represent more than 20,000 women of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao sect in southern Hau Giang and Ca Mau provinces, made the statement at a reception given by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee’s Standing Committee in Hanoi on April 22.
They said they were happy with the Party and State’s attention to Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao women and its religious followers.
Member of the Standing Committee Nguyen Van Vinh praised the contributions of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao women to the past national construction and current development.
As one of 10 sects of the Cao Dai religion, two followers of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao were bestowed the People’s Armed Forces Hero title and 119 others were awarded the Vietnamese Heroic Mother title.
Meanwhile, thousands of women were conferred with War of National Defence medals.
VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty dignitaries of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao, a sect of Caodaism, have confirmed their belief in Party and State’s religious policies and pledged to abide by the regulations.
The dignitaries, who represent more than 20,000 women of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao sect in southern Hau Giang and Ca Mau provinces, made the statement at a reception given by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee’s Standing Committee in Hanoi on April 22.
They said they were happy with the Party and State’s attention to Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao women and its religious followers.
Member of the Standing Committee Nguyen Van Vinh praised the contributions of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao women to the past national construction and current development.
As one of 10 sects of the Cao Dai religion, two followers of Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao were bestowed the People’s Armed Forces Hero title and 119 others were awarded the Vietnamese Heroic Mother title.
Meanwhile, thousands of women were conferred with War of National Defence medals.
New road cuts traffic in central city
16:16' 23/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Stretching from the southern tip of Hai Van Pass in Da Nang's Lien Chieu District to Tuy Loan Village along National Highway 1A in Hoa Vang District, the Da Nang Bypass officially opened to traffic last Saturday.
Cars drive along a new section of National Highway 1A that bypasses Da Nang's inner districts.
The new road spans across 18km and over 8 bridges, and is the final step of the first phase of the Da Nang Port Improvement Project.
The Ministry of Transport's Projects Management Unit (PMU) 85 said the bypass should facilitate transportation on the section of the National Highway from Quang Ngai to Quang Tri provinces and enhance Hai Van Tunnel's efficacy while simultaneously minimizing traffic in and out of Da Nang City's inner districts.
"The bypass will play an important role on the highway from Quang Ngai to Da Nang, as well as from Phu Bai (Thua Thien-Hue) and Cam Lo (Quang Tri)," said Nguyen Van Thanh, director of the project's primary contractor, the Civil Engineering Construction Corp. No 6 (Cienco 6).
The Ministry of Transport's figures predict a reduction of 3,000 vehicles per day on the section of National Highway 1A going through Da Nang City's central districts.
The Japanese Government, through the Japan Bank of International Co-operation, funded the project with a VND239bil (nearly US$15mil) loan.
"The completion of the bypass means an accomplishment of an important part of the East West Economic Corridor," according to Kohei Nagai from Japan Port Consultants, the consulting agency for the Da Nang Port Improvement Project.
The East West Economic Corridor, or Trans-Asia Highway, runs through Central Vietnam, the Lao Bao Border Gate in Quang Tri Province, Central Laos, northeastern Thailand, and finally use Andaman Sea in Myanmar.
VietNamNet Bridge – Stretching from the southern tip of Hai Van Pass in Da Nang's Lien Chieu District to Tuy Loan Village along National Highway 1A in Hoa Vang District, the Da Nang Bypass officially opened to traffic last Saturday.
Cars drive along a new section of National Highway 1A that bypasses Da Nang's inner districts.
The new road spans across 18km and over 8 bridges, and is the final step of the first phase of the Da Nang Port Improvement Project.
The Ministry of Transport's Projects Management Unit (PMU) 85 said the bypass should facilitate transportation on the section of the National Highway from Quang Ngai to Quang Tri provinces and enhance Hai Van Tunnel's efficacy while simultaneously minimizing traffic in and out of Da Nang City's inner districts.
"The bypass will play an important role on the highway from Quang Ngai to Da Nang, as well as from Phu Bai (Thua Thien-Hue) and Cam Lo (Quang Tri)," said Nguyen Van Thanh, director of the project's primary contractor, the Civil Engineering Construction Corp. No 6 (Cienco 6).
The Ministry of Transport's figures predict a reduction of 3,000 vehicles per day on the section of National Highway 1A going through Da Nang City's central districts.
The Japanese Government, through the Japan Bank of International Co-operation, funded the project with a VND239bil (nearly US$15mil) loan.
"The completion of the bypass means an accomplishment of an important part of the East West Economic Corridor," according to Kohei Nagai from Japan Port Consultants, the consulting agency for the Da Nang Port Improvement Project.
The East West Economic Corridor, or Trans-Asia Highway, runs through Central Vietnam, the Lao Bao Border Gate in Quang Tri Province, Central Laos, northeastern Thailand, and finally use Andaman Sea in Myanmar.
City names Keppel Land developer of resettlement area
13:50' 23/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – A consortium comprising the Singapore-based Keppel Land and domestic realty firm Tien Phuoc has been named developer of a resettlement area in HCMC's District 2 for households affected by key projects in the city, including the Thu Thiem New Urban Area project.
An official of the HCMC government told the Daily on Monday that the consortium has been named developer of a project to build 1,886 apartments and a park in the city's eastern district. The project covers 17.3 hectares encompassing two wards An Phu and Binh Khanh.
Under the city's decision, Keppel Land and its Vietnamese partner will use their own funds for completely building apartments and the park, and then transfer the project to the city government for using as resettlement houses for key projects.
In return, the city will allocate a land plot of 30 hectares for the two investors for developing a residential area. The land plot is part of the Nam Rach Chiec Residential Area, which totally covets 90 hectares in An Phu Ward.
The consortium is also asked to provide fund for building infrastructure facilities for the remaining 60 hectares of the Nam Rach Chiec area as well as building 200 sample houses for the resettlement area in Nam Rach Chiec.
This method, often referred to as "land in exchange for infrastructure," has been seen in several other projects, such as the cost-intensive project to develop the Tan Son Nhat-Binh Loi-outer beltway and elevated roads.
The city authorities also asked the Department of Finance to work with relevant agencies to compare the funds that the consortium will spend developing 1,886 apartments for the affected families and a park on 17.3-hectare area, and the market-based value of 30 hectares in the residential area in Nam Rach Chiec.
Besides, District 2 and other departments of Urban Planning-Architecture, Construction, Environment-Natural Resources, Finance, Planning-Investment and Transport and Public Works are also told to support the investors in preparatory stage for the project.
Last July, Keppel Land joined forced with two local partners to develop a township in Dong Nai Province. The total investment for the first stage of the 193-hectare project is estimated at over US$600mil.
The Singapore-based realty developer has recently also entered into joint ventures to develop luxury condominiums on an 8.5-hectare site along the Ca Cam River in Saigon South and a 1.7-hectare waterfront residential project by the Saigon River in Binh Thanh District.
Another residential development in progress in HCMC by Keppel is The Estella, a 4.8-hectare site located in An Phu Ward in District 2. This is part of Keppel Land's first residential township, Saigon Sports City, which is an integrated residential, commercial and recreational sporting hub on a 64-hectare area in HCMC's An Phu Ward, District 2.
In Hanoi, Keppel Land has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop two residential townships, one in Long Bien District and one in Dong Anh District.
VietNamNet Bridge – A consortium comprising the Singapore-based Keppel Land and domestic realty firm Tien Phuoc has been named developer of a resettlement area in HCMC's District 2 for households affected by key projects in the city, including the Thu Thiem New Urban Area project.
An official of the HCMC government told the Daily on Monday that the consortium has been named developer of a project to build 1,886 apartments and a park in the city's eastern district. The project covers 17.3 hectares encompassing two wards An Phu and Binh Khanh.
Under the city's decision, Keppel Land and its Vietnamese partner will use their own funds for completely building apartments and the park, and then transfer the project to the city government for using as resettlement houses for key projects.
In return, the city will allocate a land plot of 30 hectares for the two investors for developing a residential area. The land plot is part of the Nam Rach Chiec Residential Area, which totally covets 90 hectares in An Phu Ward.
The consortium is also asked to provide fund for building infrastructure facilities for the remaining 60 hectares of the Nam Rach Chiec area as well as building 200 sample houses for the resettlement area in Nam Rach Chiec.
This method, often referred to as "land in exchange for infrastructure," has been seen in several other projects, such as the cost-intensive project to develop the Tan Son Nhat-Binh Loi-outer beltway and elevated roads.
The city authorities also asked the Department of Finance to work with relevant agencies to compare the funds that the consortium will spend developing 1,886 apartments for the affected families and a park on 17.3-hectare area, and the market-based value of 30 hectares in the residential area in Nam Rach Chiec.
Besides, District 2 and other departments of Urban Planning-Architecture, Construction, Environment-Natural Resources, Finance, Planning-Investment and Transport and Public Works are also told to support the investors in preparatory stage for the project.
Last July, Keppel Land joined forced with two local partners to develop a township in Dong Nai Province. The total investment for the first stage of the 193-hectare project is estimated at over US$600mil.
The Singapore-based realty developer has recently also entered into joint ventures to develop luxury condominiums on an 8.5-hectare site along the Ca Cam River in Saigon South and a 1.7-hectare waterfront residential project by the Saigon River in Binh Thanh District.
Another residential development in progress in HCMC by Keppel is The Estella, a 4.8-hectare site located in An Phu Ward in District 2. This is part of Keppel Land's first residential township, Saigon Sports City, which is an integrated residential, commercial and recreational sporting hub on a 64-hectare area in HCMC's An Phu Ward, District 2.
In Hanoi, Keppel Land has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop two residential townships, one in Long Bien District and one in Dong Anh District.
High costs slow construction projects
14:24' 23/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Land clearance process also slowing needed developments
A sharp increase in the cost of construction materials and difficulties in land clearance led to the slow disbursement of basic construction capital in the first quarter of 2008, according to Pham Sy Liem, deputy chairman of Viet Nam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations.
The Phap Van overpass linking Thanh Tri Bridge with National Highway No 1 is under construction.
"Although the Government has had corresponding policies for contractors to deal with the high costs of construction materials, it takes time for them to come into effect," Liem told Viet Nam News.
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) reported that they spent less capital on basic construction in the first three months of the year than targeted.
Only VND651bil (US$40.7mil) was disbursed out of VND742bil ($46.4mil) spent from the budget, meeting only 10.5% of the year's plan.
From the Government's bond capital, VND770bil ($48mil) was disbursed out of VND1.7tril ($106mil) spent on the MoT's basic construction projects in the first three months of the year, meeting 7.5% of the year's target, the MoT reported.
On average, only VND470bil ($29.4mil) was disbursed every month while usually VND1.5tril ($93.8mil) should be disbursed monthly to meet the year's target of about VND18tril ($1.1bil).
Over the rest of the year, as much as VND2tril ($125mil) must be disbursed in each month to meet the year's target.
Construction costs have increased from 150-170% because of the price hike of materials, forcing many projects to come to a halt, Liem said.
The Ministry of Construction has allowed previous contracts to be reviewed to deal with the increase in material costs, however, many procedures have to be taken to avoid contracts from being overestimated, Liem said.
He proposed that the ministry earmark capital for basic construction projects in advance before carefully evaluating and establishing professional teams headed by high-ranking Government officials who can issue immediate decisions to tackle hindrances in each project.
Investment in basic construction should follow the general Government guideline of limiting or cutting ineffective or non-urgent projects while using more capital for projects which can be finished sooner and are socio-economically beneficial.
Land clearance speed, a traditional hindrance for construction in Vietnam, also continues to challenge the disbursement of basic construction projects, Liem said.
According to the MoT's Department for Transport Construction Appraisal and Management, land clearance speed is slower than planned in most of MoT's basic construction projects, negatively impacting the projects' progress.
Projects with serious land clearance problems include 4B Lang Son national route, Thanh Tri bridge, 32 Nhon - Son Tay national route and an upgrade to bridges along N1 national route in its third phase.
The Ministry of Construction early this month presented to the Government a document outlining 16 major hindrances on land clearance activities.
The speed of land clearances could be improved if more professional and scientific methods, and the principle of satisfactory compensation, were strictly applied, Liem said.
"The slow disbursement of basic construction projects doesn't directly affect any individual but has huge negative impacts on the economy. If a national route is completed months after planned, how much money does it cost the economy?".
Land clearance process also slowing needed developments
A sharp increase in the cost of construction materials and difficulties in land clearance led to the slow disbursement of basic construction capital in the first quarter of 2008, according to Pham Sy Liem, deputy chairman of Viet Nam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations.
The Phap Van overpass linking Thanh Tri Bridge with National Highway No 1 is under construction.
"Although the Government has had corresponding policies for contractors to deal with the high costs of construction materials, it takes time for them to come into effect," Liem told Viet Nam News.
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) reported that they spent less capital on basic construction in the first three months of the year than targeted.
Only VND651bil (US$40.7mil) was disbursed out of VND742bil ($46.4mil) spent from the budget, meeting only 10.5% of the year's plan.
From the Government's bond capital, VND770bil ($48mil) was disbursed out of VND1.7tril ($106mil) spent on the MoT's basic construction projects in the first three months of the year, meeting 7.5% of the year's target, the MoT reported.
On average, only VND470bil ($29.4mil) was disbursed every month while usually VND1.5tril ($93.8mil) should be disbursed monthly to meet the year's target of about VND18tril ($1.1bil).
Over the rest of the year, as much as VND2tril ($125mil) must be disbursed in each month to meet the year's target.
Construction costs have increased from 150-170% because of the price hike of materials, forcing many projects to come to a halt, Liem said.
The Ministry of Construction has allowed previous contracts to be reviewed to deal with the increase in material costs, however, many procedures have to be taken to avoid contracts from being overestimated, Liem said.
He proposed that the ministry earmark capital for basic construction projects in advance before carefully evaluating and establishing professional teams headed by high-ranking Government officials who can issue immediate decisions to tackle hindrances in each project.
Investment in basic construction should follow the general Government guideline of limiting or cutting ineffective or non-urgent projects while using more capital for projects which can be finished sooner and are socio-economically beneficial.
Land clearance speed, a traditional hindrance for construction in Vietnam, also continues to challenge the disbursement of basic construction projects, Liem said.
According to the MoT's Department for Transport Construction Appraisal and Management, land clearance speed is slower than planned in most of MoT's basic construction projects, negatively impacting the projects' progress.
Projects with serious land clearance problems include 4B Lang Son national route, Thanh Tri bridge, 32 Nhon - Son Tay national route and an upgrade to bridges along N1 national route in its third phase.
The Ministry of Construction early this month presented to the Government a document outlining 16 major hindrances on land clearance activities.
The speed of land clearances could be improved if more professional and scientific methods, and the principle of satisfactory compensation, were strictly applied, Liem said.
"The slow disbursement of basic construction projects doesn't directly affect any individual but has huge negative impacts on the economy. If a national route is completed months after planned, how much money does it cost the economy?".
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Expanding population requires smart solutions to unemployment
22:44' 22/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – It is forecast that Vietnam’s population will reach around 89mil by 2010, creating a huge demand for new jobs. Thoi Bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) spoke to several experts about the issue.
* Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs:
In order to reach the target of creating jobs for 1.7mil workers this year, the labour sector should implement various solutions. The first one involves improving and updating labour law. The ministry will also sponsor labour consultancy activities and development of job market information from job agencies.
The sector will also apply stricter regulations on labour safety by more frequently checking equipment and machines at enterprises and increasing fines for breaches of labour law.
The sector will ask authorities and enterprises to provide sufficient forecasts on labour demands up to 2010.
The labour sector will co-ordinate with the Social Policy Bank and other concerned agencies to solve problems in drafting and examining projects to distribute national fund for jobs creation more quickly.
We intend to focus more on projects that create many jobs, and encourage handicraft villages and small enterprises to expand. This year, the sector will build two job agencies in the north and central region. The same agency will be built next year in the south.
In addition, the job transaction centre model will be used more, and job-search programmes will be promoted more in the countryside and remote mountainous areas.
* Do Thi Xuan Phuong, deputy director of Hanoi’s Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department:
Labour export has been considered as an important part of solving unemployment in the city. There are 70 enterprises specialising in exporting labour in Hanoi. But during the past few years, not many labourers in the city have taken part in labour export. That’s why this year, the city will promote labour export programmes among the local community.
Experts in the field suggested that city authorities should build more training centres for labour export to meet the increasing demand of labour export enterprises.
Last year, the city created nearly 80,000 new jobs, reducing the unemployment rate to below 6%. Among the new jobs, the service sector featured prominently, offering most of the positions.
This year, increasing the labour quality to offer more skilled labourers is the most important task of the local labour sector. The city will try to reduce the unemployment rate to 5.7%.
* Nguyen Xuan Vui, general director of Airseco (Airlines Service and Trading Joint-Stock Company):
Labour export has brought many jobs to labourers in areas that are undergoing changing land-use, or for young men finishing military duty. Labour export has also offered labourers the chance to be trained and to practise abroad.
Vietnamese who work overseas send home around US$1.6bil each year.
Foreign employers have noted that Vietnamese workers are clever, agile and eager to learn. Yet they face various challenges, such as stiff competition from workers from other countries and Vietnamese workers’ limited capacity for foreign languages.
Exporting labour is a sensitive field and requires enterprises with established trademarks to join in with work in this area.
In my opinion we should classify enterprises in the labour export sector according to their performance.
We can tally the number of labourers sent abroad by an enterprise to check the company’s effectiveness. However, other factors are also important like the rate of labourers who have to return home earlier than stipulated by contracts; the rate of labourers that have accidents and the way enterprises solve problems associated with working abroad.
If the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs gives strict guidance and enterprises make plans and invest in training, we will raise labour export to a new level during the next few years - that is sending highly-skilled technical labourers who can meet growing global demand.
VietNamNet Bridge – It is forecast that Vietnam’s population will reach around 89mil by 2010, creating a huge demand for new jobs. Thoi Bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) spoke to several experts about the issue.
* Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs:
In order to reach the target of creating jobs for 1.7mil workers this year, the labour sector should implement various solutions. The first one involves improving and updating labour law. The ministry will also sponsor labour consultancy activities and development of job market information from job agencies.
The sector will also apply stricter regulations on labour safety by more frequently checking equipment and machines at enterprises and increasing fines for breaches of labour law.
The sector will ask authorities and enterprises to provide sufficient forecasts on labour demands up to 2010.
The labour sector will co-ordinate with the Social Policy Bank and other concerned agencies to solve problems in drafting and examining projects to distribute national fund for jobs creation more quickly.
We intend to focus more on projects that create many jobs, and encourage handicraft villages and small enterprises to expand. This year, the sector will build two job agencies in the north and central region. The same agency will be built next year in the south.
In addition, the job transaction centre model will be used more, and job-search programmes will be promoted more in the countryside and remote mountainous areas.
* Do Thi Xuan Phuong, deputy director of Hanoi’s Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department:
Labour export has been considered as an important part of solving unemployment in the city. There are 70 enterprises specialising in exporting labour in Hanoi. But during the past few years, not many labourers in the city have taken part in labour export. That’s why this year, the city will promote labour export programmes among the local community.
Experts in the field suggested that city authorities should build more training centres for labour export to meet the increasing demand of labour export enterprises.
Last year, the city created nearly 80,000 new jobs, reducing the unemployment rate to below 6%. Among the new jobs, the service sector featured prominently, offering most of the positions.
This year, increasing the labour quality to offer more skilled labourers is the most important task of the local labour sector. The city will try to reduce the unemployment rate to 5.7%.
* Nguyen Xuan Vui, general director of Airseco (Airlines Service and Trading Joint-Stock Company):
Labour export has brought many jobs to labourers in areas that are undergoing changing land-use, or for young men finishing military duty. Labour export has also offered labourers the chance to be trained and to practise abroad.
Vietnamese who work overseas send home around US$1.6bil each year.
Foreign employers have noted that Vietnamese workers are clever, agile and eager to learn. Yet they face various challenges, such as stiff competition from workers from other countries and Vietnamese workers’ limited capacity for foreign languages.
Exporting labour is a sensitive field and requires enterprises with established trademarks to join in with work in this area.
In my opinion we should classify enterprises in the labour export sector according to their performance.
We can tally the number of labourers sent abroad by an enterprise to check the company’s effectiveness. However, other factors are also important like the rate of labourers who have to return home earlier than stipulated by contracts; the rate of labourers that have accidents and the way enterprises solve problems associated with working abroad.
If the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs gives strict guidance and enterprises make plans and invest in training, we will raise labour export to a new level during the next few years - that is sending highly-skilled technical labourers who can meet growing global demand.
Monday, 21 April 2008
Foot-hand-mouth worsening in HCM City
07:15' 21/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Children with foot-hand-mouth disease in a hospital in HCM City
VietNamNet Bridge - The increasing number of children diagnosed with foot-hand-mouth disease indicates the epidemic is entering a new phase, said doctors at the Infectious Disease Department of Paediatrics hospital No 1, HCM City.
Yesterday morning alone, the department received 52 children suffering from the disease, which is highly infectious.
The disease can lead to inflamed sores on the lips, tongue and mouth, fever, sore throat and tender hands and feet. Children are generally more affected.
"The number of patients this week doubled over last week," said Truong Huu Khanh, head of the department.
An increase in victims was also reported at the Paediatrics Hospital No 2. About 30 patients a day are being admitted.
It said cases in the first three months of this year were seven times higher than for the same period last year.
"These figures show that the risk of a serious epidemic is very high," said one doctor. Most children are admitted with long lasting fever, nausea and vomiting. Their hand, feet and mouth are often covered with pus-filled blisters.
"Convulsion, waking up with a start or with glowing eyes are other symptoms," said Dr Khanh.
The disease is easily treated, but if left alone can damage the brain and heart. Death sometime occurs.
"Children under three-years’ of age can get the disease through touching nose fluids, spittle or touching bottles, food or toys belonging to those already suffering," said Khanh.
To prevent the disease, parents should take note of any symptoms – and take their children to hospital for diagnosis and treatment if they persist, said Khanh.
Children with foot-hand-mouth disease in a hospital in HCM City
VietNamNet Bridge - The increasing number of children diagnosed with foot-hand-mouth disease indicates the epidemic is entering a new phase, said doctors at the Infectious Disease Department of Paediatrics hospital No 1, HCM City.
Yesterday morning alone, the department received 52 children suffering from the disease, which is highly infectious.
The disease can lead to inflamed sores on the lips, tongue and mouth, fever, sore throat and tender hands and feet. Children are generally more affected.
"The number of patients this week doubled over last week," said Truong Huu Khanh, head of the department.
An increase in victims was also reported at the Paediatrics Hospital No 2. About 30 patients a day are being admitted.
It said cases in the first three months of this year were seven times higher than for the same period last year.
"These figures show that the risk of a serious epidemic is very high," said one doctor. Most children are admitted with long lasting fever, nausea and vomiting. Their hand, feet and mouth are often covered with pus-filled blisters.
"Convulsion, waking up with a start or with glowing eyes are other symptoms," said Dr Khanh.
The disease is easily treated, but if left alone can damage the brain and heart. Death sometime occurs.
"Children under three-years’ of age can get the disease through touching nose fluids, spittle or touching bottles, food or toys belonging to those already suffering," said Khanh.
To prevent the disease, parents should take note of any symptoms – and take their children to hospital for diagnosis and treatment if they persist, said Khanh.
PM asks authorities to protect farmlands
13:57' 21/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Unregulated farm conversions could leave farmers jobless
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged local authorities and related agencies to 'minimise' the conversion of agricultural land, especially the wet rice areas for non-agricultural uses.
One farmer has to dry rice on the pavement in Linh Dam urban area, formerly a farming area.
Projects in violation of the Land Law should be restored to their original agricultural state, Dung said in his instruction published by the Government website last Friday.
"The Government fears that the unregulated conversion of farm land into industrial parks urban areas or construction sites will affect national food security and push thousands of farmers out of their jobs.
Dung appointed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to cooperate with related authorities to set up a task force to evaluate the status of farm land use in provinces nationwide.
The delegates will work with various agricultural provinces' People's Committee in Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam to inspect the zoning and strategies for using farming land at grassroots administrative levels. The results recorded in the inspections would be compared with national statistics.
The PM's decision requires numerous local organisations to reassess the land use situation. Land being ineffectively used or reserved for projects behind schedule should be restored.
Tran The Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said the country had lost 34,330 hectares of land for paddy cultivation between 2005 and 2007.
Of the figure, 16,000 ha in the Mekong River Delta and 8,000 hectares of paddy in the Red River Delta had been converted for other purposes. Ngoc said many projects let farm land turn fallow so they could be turned into industrial parks but the rate of land actually in use by those projects was quite low.
Ngoc cited the 306 ha Xuyen A Industrial Park in southern Long An Province, which was authorized in 1997 but until now still leases less than 15% of the total area. The 274 ha Duc Hoa Industrial Park in the province only uses 26% of the land.
Most of provinces and cities in the nation's rice basket were racing to set up industrial parks to attract more investment funds, Ngoc said, adding that some provinces lack the potential to attract foreign investors.
Unregulated farm conversions could leave farmers jobless
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged local authorities and related agencies to 'minimise' the conversion of agricultural land, especially the wet rice areas for non-agricultural uses.
One farmer has to dry rice on the pavement in Linh Dam urban area, formerly a farming area.
Projects in violation of the Land Law should be restored to their original agricultural state, Dung said in his instruction published by the Government website last Friday.
"The Government fears that the unregulated conversion of farm land into industrial parks urban areas or construction sites will affect national food security and push thousands of farmers out of their jobs.
Dung appointed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to cooperate with related authorities to set up a task force to evaluate the status of farm land use in provinces nationwide.
The delegates will work with various agricultural provinces' People's Committee in Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam to inspect the zoning and strategies for using farming land at grassroots administrative levels. The results recorded in the inspections would be compared with national statistics.
The PM's decision requires numerous local organisations to reassess the land use situation. Land being ineffectively used or reserved for projects behind schedule should be restored.
Tran The Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said the country had lost 34,330 hectares of land for paddy cultivation between 2005 and 2007.
Of the figure, 16,000 ha in the Mekong River Delta and 8,000 hectares of paddy in the Red River Delta had been converted for other purposes. Ngoc said many projects let farm land turn fallow so they could be turned into industrial parks but the rate of land actually in use by those projects was quite low.
Ngoc cited the 306 ha Xuyen A Industrial Park in southern Long An Province, which was authorized in 1997 but until now still leases less than 15% of the total area. The 274 ha Duc Hoa Industrial Park in the province only uses 26% of the land.
Most of provinces and cities in the nation's rice basket were racing to set up industrial parks to attract more investment funds, Ngoc said, adding that some provinces lack the potential to attract foreign investors.
Report sees need for higher medical fees
17:34' 21/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – A public healthcare report to the National Assembly's Standing Committee has called on the Government to increase hospital fees to ensure the smooth operation of healthcare units during a committee discussion yesterday.
According to a report by Minister of Health Nguyen Quoc Trieu, the nation's hospitals and healthcare units could hardly operate with the income from their current hospital fees.
These fees, which were set up by the Government in 1995, are becoming increasingly insufficient. And market prices and salaries have both increased several times over the years.
Currently, in large hospitals like Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City and Viet Duc and Bach Mai hospitals in Hanoi, hospital fees and healthcare insurance fees account for 80 to 90% of the hospitals' expenses.
Furthermore, they must spend part of this income on increased staff salaries, which places more financial pressure on them. Thus, investments, maintenance and new healthcare equipment cannot be given the priority they deserve.
"We should consider hospital fees as the price of healthcare service. Hospital fees should be sufficiently calculated to ensure better operational spending for hospitals and healthcare units," said Trieu.
He suggested the Government should apply new hospital fees, which would be clearly identified. Parts which were provided by the Government's budget would not be counted into the hospital fees, but parts that the hospitals had to cover would be taken into account.
Welfare beneficiaries, poor people and children under six could use healthcare services with insurance paid through the Government's budget. Meanwhile, those with higher salaries would have to pay all hospital fees.
The report also indicated an urgent need to adjust the imbalance in the receipts and expenses of the healthcare insurance fund. For over 15 years, most patients only purchased voluntary healthcare insurance when they fell sick.
In 2006, the fund's deficit was VND1.1tril (US$70mil), the figure rose up to VND1.3tril in 2007 ($85mil). It was predicted that this year's figure could reach as high as VND2.5tril ($156mil).
According to Truong Thi Mai, chairperson of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Issues, the Government was now carrying out measures to adjust hospital fees in accordance with the current situation. In the first stage, hospital fees would be calculated adequately to ensure operations.
In the second stage, full hospital fees would be applied. This would be combined with the application of providing healthcare insurance for every citizen. Public hospitals would then control human resources, salaries, recruitment and the purchasing of all equipment and other facilities.
VietNamNet Bridge – A public healthcare report to the National Assembly's Standing Committee has called on the Government to increase hospital fees to ensure the smooth operation of healthcare units during a committee discussion yesterday.
According to a report by Minister of Health Nguyen Quoc Trieu, the nation's hospitals and healthcare units could hardly operate with the income from their current hospital fees.
These fees, which were set up by the Government in 1995, are becoming increasingly insufficient. And market prices and salaries have both increased several times over the years.
Currently, in large hospitals like Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City and Viet Duc and Bach Mai hospitals in Hanoi, hospital fees and healthcare insurance fees account for 80 to 90% of the hospitals' expenses.
Furthermore, they must spend part of this income on increased staff salaries, which places more financial pressure on them. Thus, investments, maintenance and new healthcare equipment cannot be given the priority they deserve.
"We should consider hospital fees as the price of healthcare service. Hospital fees should be sufficiently calculated to ensure better operational spending for hospitals and healthcare units," said Trieu.
He suggested the Government should apply new hospital fees, which would be clearly identified. Parts which were provided by the Government's budget would not be counted into the hospital fees, but parts that the hospitals had to cover would be taken into account.
Welfare beneficiaries, poor people and children under six could use healthcare services with insurance paid through the Government's budget. Meanwhile, those with higher salaries would have to pay all hospital fees.
The report also indicated an urgent need to adjust the imbalance in the receipts and expenses of the healthcare insurance fund. For over 15 years, most patients only purchased voluntary healthcare insurance when they fell sick.
In 2006, the fund's deficit was VND1.1tril (US$70mil), the figure rose up to VND1.3tril in 2007 ($85mil). It was predicted that this year's figure could reach as high as VND2.5tril ($156mil).
According to Truong Thi Mai, chairperson of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Issues, the Government was now carrying out measures to adjust hospital fees in accordance with the current situation. In the first stage, hospital fees would be calculated adequately to ensure operations.
In the second stage, full hospital fees would be applied. This would be combined with the application of providing healthcare insurance for every citizen. Public hospitals would then control human resources, salaries, recruitment and the purchasing of all equipment and other facilities.
Acute diarrhea epidemic slackens in Hanoi
09:59' 21/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - The Hanoi Department of Health has asked the public to stay vigilant even though the acute diarrhea epidemic is showing signs of abating in the capital city.
Head of the department Le Anh Tuan said at a press briefing in Hanoi on April 18 that over the past few days, less acute diarrhea patients had been admitted to hospital and no more cases had tested positive for Vibrio Cholerae.
Mr Tuan said that the Hanoi Preventive Medicine Department had taken water samples from 30 out of 110 high-risk lakes and ponds in the city for testing and found that 11 out of 30 lakes had no this strain of bacteria, but many of the remainder had Ecoli infections.
Earlier, 1.75 tonnes of Cloramin B was used to disinfect Linh Quang lake in Dong Da precinct from Vibrio Cholarae. Later water samples showed that the lake was free from the strain. More than 2,000 residents living around the lake were given vaccine to protect them from the bacteria.
Currently, Hanoi cannot control the supply of vegetables into the city, said Mr Tuan, adding that 60 percent of the vegetables have an unknown origin. Vegetables taken from several green grocers have tested positive for Vibrio Cholarae.
He asked local people to pay more attention to food safety and hygiene to protect themselves from the epidemic.
VietNamNet Bridge - The Hanoi Department of Health has asked the public to stay vigilant even though the acute diarrhea epidemic is showing signs of abating in the capital city.
Head of the department Le Anh Tuan said at a press briefing in Hanoi on April 18 that over the past few days, less acute diarrhea patients had been admitted to hospital and no more cases had tested positive for Vibrio Cholerae.
Mr Tuan said that the Hanoi Preventive Medicine Department had taken water samples from 30 out of 110 high-risk lakes and ponds in the city for testing and found that 11 out of 30 lakes had no this strain of bacteria, but many of the remainder had Ecoli infections.
Earlier, 1.75 tonnes of Cloramin B was used to disinfect Linh Quang lake in Dong Da precinct from Vibrio Cholarae. Later water samples showed that the lake was free from the strain. More than 2,000 residents living around the lake were given vaccine to protect them from the bacteria.
Currently, Hanoi cannot control the supply of vegetables into the city, said Mr Tuan, adding that 60 percent of the vegetables have an unknown origin. Vegetables taken from several green grocers have tested positive for Vibrio Cholarae.
He asked local people to pay more attention to food safety and hygiene to protect themselves from the epidemic.
Bulldozers to head to illegal highway structures next month
16:41' 21/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – The Transport Ministry will begin clearing illegal structures along National Highway 1 on May 1.
The VND14tril, about US$875mil, campaign would eliminate encroaching buildings to re-establish traffic safety, said Viet Nam Roads Administration deputy director Ngo Quang Dao on Thursday.
Four sections, Hanoi-Ninh Binh; Vinh-Hue; Da Nang-Nha Trang and Ninh Thuan to south of HCM City, would be cleared during the first three-month phase, he said.
The Viet Nam Roads Administration estimates that about 80,000 structures have been illegally built along the north-south highway.
They include residences and commercial buildings.
Illegal roads also criss-cross the major artery.
Owners of the structures are being told this month to clear sites 5-7 metres from the road's edge or they will be bulldozed.
Owners of structures erected after 1999 would not be compensated in accordance with Decree 172, said Ngo Quang Dao.
Occupiers of land that local officials had illegally allocated for cultivation or the building of dwellings before that date could negotiate for payment but not until the third phase of the campaign which begins in 2010.
The deputy director said that about 50% of illegally built cross roads - often lower than the highway and a cause of accidents - would be eliminated.
Most had been built without the Transport Ministry's permission.
Although the administration's permission was now necessary for all new roads only 27 of the country's 64 cities and provinces had so far submitted their projects for approval, he said.
The deputy director said that all illegal structures along the highway would be eliminated during the campaign second phase, from the end of July to 2010.
Municipal officers had been asked to co-operate in having the illegal structures cleared by next March in accordance with Viet Nam Government Resolution 32 of last June.
Viet Nam Railways plans to spend more than VND4tril, about $250-mil, between now and 2020 to have illegal structures cleared from alongside its tracks.
VietNamNet Bridge – The Transport Ministry will begin clearing illegal structures along National Highway 1 on May 1.
The VND14tril, about US$875mil, campaign would eliminate encroaching buildings to re-establish traffic safety, said Viet Nam Roads Administration deputy director Ngo Quang Dao on Thursday.
Four sections, Hanoi-Ninh Binh; Vinh-Hue; Da Nang-Nha Trang and Ninh Thuan to south of HCM City, would be cleared during the first three-month phase, he said.
The Viet Nam Roads Administration estimates that about 80,000 structures have been illegally built along the north-south highway.
They include residences and commercial buildings.
Illegal roads also criss-cross the major artery.
Owners of the structures are being told this month to clear sites 5-7 metres from the road's edge or they will be bulldozed.
Owners of structures erected after 1999 would not be compensated in accordance with Decree 172, said Ngo Quang Dao.
Occupiers of land that local officials had illegally allocated for cultivation or the building of dwellings before that date could negotiate for payment but not until the third phase of the campaign which begins in 2010.
The deputy director said that about 50% of illegally built cross roads - often lower than the highway and a cause of accidents - would be eliminated.
Most had been built without the Transport Ministry's permission.
Although the administration's permission was now necessary for all new roads only 27 of the country's 64 cities and provinces had so far submitted their projects for approval, he said.
The deputy director said that all illegal structures along the highway would be eliminated during the campaign second phase, from the end of July to 2010.
Municipal officers had been asked to co-operate in having the illegal structures cleared by next March in accordance with Viet Nam Government Resolution 32 of last June.
Viet Nam Railways plans to spend more than VND4tril, about $250-mil, between now and 2020 to have illegal structures cleared from alongside its tracks.
Friday, 18 April 2008
The poor afraid of getting rich!
07:01' 19/04/2008 (GMT+7)
A silk shop in Van Phuc Village
VietNamNet Bridge – The poor have to suffer many pains: natural calamities, epidemics, price escalation, etc. when they don’t have money. But when they have money, they are afflicted with even greater pains. This absurdity actually exists.
When a village is turned into a street
Villagers at Van Phuc silk village in Ha Dong city, Ha Tay province are not happy about the news that they will become residents of the capital in the near future.
Thuy Hanh, the owner of a silk shop in Van Phuc village, said her husband was born in Chuong My district, Ha Tay province, so he experienced a merging. In the past Chuong My district’s Thien Phuong and Phung Chau were merged into Hanoi, but after the merging there was no change in these communes, so they were returned to Ha Tay.
But as Ha Tay will be merged into Hanoi, the land prices in Van Phuc are rocketing. Land traders are flocking to Ha Tay and Van Phuc in particular to buy all kinds of land. The local people consider this a chance to change their lives.
“They sell their land but they are not happy,” Hanh commented.
“Farmers can save several million VND a year. Suddenly they have hundreds of millions of VND from selling their fields. They have money but what will they do when they don’t have land?” queried Nguyen Van Du, Vice Chairman of the Van Phuc commune People’s Committee.
Du mentioned the case of Me Tri and Me Dinh as typical examples of local people getting a lot of money from selling land but after that not having jobs and becoming drug addicts and lazy people.
“Van Phuc is a traditional craft village so we are very worried that the locals will target short-term benefit and forget the long term,” Du said.
When villages become streets, farmers may not be able to adapt themselves to urban life if the urbanisation process takes place too quickly. The poor may get rich from selling their fields but this is short-term wealth, which incurs latent risks, Du added.
Van Phuc village has nearly 1,280 households, 90% of them producing and trading silk. The villagers have a traditional profession so they are not poor, but they still worry about urbanisation.
Swapping life for money
All three sons of an old couple in Tho Xuan district in the central province of Thanh Hoa headed to HCM City to earn their living. The couple didn’t know what their sons did but they sent home VND2 million every month. VND2 million is very valuable in the rural area and the couple didn’t need to do anything. They leased out their fields to receive rice.
Suddenly, the three sons came back, bearing serious diseases, the consequences of a long hardworking period. The old couple just cried and wished that their children had not been so thirsty to get rich far from their hometown and been content to do fieldwork at home.
Thuy’s family in Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province, is considered the richest family in his village because they own several brick kilns. He began producing bricks over ten years ago. His children are very keen on getting rich by this job. They spend all their time at kilns inhaling toxic gases discharged from these kilns.
Thuy’s family gets rich from these kilns because for each batch of bricks he can earn several hundred VND, much more than for doing fieldwork, but his children are always sick.
“When we were poor, we always wished to be rich. But now we have some money, we are afraid of being wealthy because its cost is too high!” said Thuy.
Most patients in big hospitals in Hanoi like K, Bach Mai, etc. are farmers. It is difficult for farmers to get rich by farm work because Vietnam’s agriculture is un-concentrated. Each farmer family has 2.5 labourers and owns around 0.7ha of land. The country has around 70 million small rice fields, according to a specialist, Prof. Nguyen Lan Dung.
“Farmers don’t have ‘opportunities’ to make money from doing illegal or legal business. They can only exchange their physical strength for money. They are hardworking, lack knowledge, so sometimes they barter their lives for money,” said historian Duong Trung Quoc.
A silk shop in Van Phuc Village
VietNamNet Bridge – The poor have to suffer many pains: natural calamities, epidemics, price escalation, etc. when they don’t have money. But when they have money, they are afflicted with even greater pains. This absurdity actually exists.
When a village is turned into a street
Villagers at Van Phuc silk village in Ha Dong city, Ha Tay province are not happy about the news that they will become residents of the capital in the near future.
Thuy Hanh, the owner of a silk shop in Van Phuc village, said her husband was born in Chuong My district, Ha Tay province, so he experienced a merging. In the past Chuong My district’s Thien Phuong and Phung Chau were merged into Hanoi, but after the merging there was no change in these communes, so they were returned to Ha Tay.
But as Ha Tay will be merged into Hanoi, the land prices in Van Phuc are rocketing. Land traders are flocking to Ha Tay and Van Phuc in particular to buy all kinds of land. The local people consider this a chance to change their lives.
“They sell their land but they are not happy,” Hanh commented.
“Farmers can save several million VND a year. Suddenly they have hundreds of millions of VND from selling their fields. They have money but what will they do when they don’t have land?” queried Nguyen Van Du, Vice Chairman of the Van Phuc commune People’s Committee.
Du mentioned the case of Me Tri and Me Dinh as typical examples of local people getting a lot of money from selling land but after that not having jobs and becoming drug addicts and lazy people.
“Van Phuc is a traditional craft village so we are very worried that the locals will target short-term benefit and forget the long term,” Du said.
When villages become streets, farmers may not be able to adapt themselves to urban life if the urbanisation process takes place too quickly. The poor may get rich from selling their fields but this is short-term wealth, which incurs latent risks, Du added.
Van Phuc village has nearly 1,280 households, 90% of them producing and trading silk. The villagers have a traditional profession so they are not poor, but they still worry about urbanisation.
Swapping life for money
All three sons of an old couple in Tho Xuan district in the central province of Thanh Hoa headed to HCM City to earn their living. The couple didn’t know what their sons did but they sent home VND2 million every month. VND2 million is very valuable in the rural area and the couple didn’t need to do anything. They leased out their fields to receive rice.
Suddenly, the three sons came back, bearing serious diseases, the consequences of a long hardworking period. The old couple just cried and wished that their children had not been so thirsty to get rich far from their hometown and been content to do fieldwork at home.
Thuy’s family in Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province, is considered the richest family in his village because they own several brick kilns. He began producing bricks over ten years ago. His children are very keen on getting rich by this job. They spend all their time at kilns inhaling toxic gases discharged from these kilns.
Thuy’s family gets rich from these kilns because for each batch of bricks he can earn several hundred VND, much more than for doing fieldwork, but his children are always sick.
“When we were poor, we always wished to be rich. But now we have some money, we are afraid of being wealthy because its cost is too high!” said Thuy.
Most patients in big hospitals in Hanoi like K, Bach Mai, etc. are farmers. It is difficult for farmers to get rich by farm work because Vietnam’s agriculture is un-concentrated. Each farmer family has 2.5 labourers and owns around 0.7ha of land. The country has around 70 million small rice fields, according to a specialist, Prof. Nguyen Lan Dung.
“Farmers don’t have ‘opportunities’ to make money from doing illegal or legal business. They can only exchange their physical strength for money. They are hardworking, lack knowledge, so sometimes they barter their lives for money,” said historian Duong Trung Quoc.
“Dad, help!”
03:30' 19/04/2008 (GMT+7)
The healthy kid at home...
VietNamNet Bridge - Bui Duc Minh is just over 3 years old but he has suffered from blood cancer for almost one year already.
His parents, Trung and Thuy, are professors at Economics University in Hanoi, Vietnam. When they decided to take him to Singapore for special treatment in March 2008, the amount of white blood cells in his body had already reached 95% of his blood. His life seemed to be leaving him.
Little Minh told his father with tears from pain: “Dad, help. Please help me out of this.” Listening to him, feeling a sharp pain in his heart, Trung, his father, did not know what to do, since his treatment requires a large amount of money, approximately 200,000 SGD. If only he could give his son all his blood, he would do it without fail.
Here are some passages taken from his parents’ diary:
12th March 2008
This is the last day we stay here, at National Pediatrics Hospital. After spending half a year at this hospital and having more than 30 tests, the doctors still have failed to reach an exact conclusion about his disease. Little Minh has suffered too much from pain and all the long treatment. He can no longer stand it. He does not want to see anyone anymore.
Not until today did they find out that his symptoms show white blood cell marrow type M1 (acute lymphoblastic leukemia AML). The doctors say they are incapable of treating this case in Vietnam. The only hope is to take him to Singapore for special treatment.
And so we pack our things and make our way to Singapore.
19th March 2008
He is suffering from a high fever as we take him to Singapore. The number of white blood cells in his body is 400 % higher than in normal people. Little Minh cannot drink or eat. His nights are always interrupted with pains; he never has a full night’s sleep.
Right after we set foot at the airport, he had to check into the hospital immediately and go through an overall check for thirty minutes. All the results confirmed that he has acute lymphoblastic leukemia AML. He was then sent to a special room for treatment to overcome the immediate danger.
I cannot help my tears from falling during his chemical treatment process when I see him cry in pain and beg for help from his parents and family. What can I do??? At that moment, there’s nothing in my mind other than the thought I HAVE TO get him out of this pain, out of all this surgery. I never want to see him suffering from this pain again. I never want to see him scared when a nurse or a doctor comes close to him. Never.
25th March 2008
After every chemical treatment little Minh feels really tired and hurts. At home every time he gets a vaccine injection he forgets easily. Now 3 or 4 intravenous chemical treatment tubes never seem to leave his little hand. Whenever my child has a high fever, he has to have his blood checked again. There are days that he has to overcome 9 injections. The pain and fear bother him even in his dreams. Sometimes he is half-awake at night crying in his sleep and calling out to us, “Mom, dad, I’m scared…Why did this happen to me? Mom, Dad, tell me?...Why does it hurt me so much?…Please, please get me out of this pain. Mom...Dad...” His dreams and our sleep are full of tears and fearfulness for a suspended future. Once in a while it dawns on us, and we realise how far away we are from our home and from being a happy normal family.
... and the kid in hospital.
26th March 2008
We have talked to the doctor and the results are good. But the relief does not last long, as we are faced with another problem. There are only two ways of treating this disease, neither of which our family can afford:
1. Bone marrow transplant for 300.000 SGD
2. Chemotherapy for 220.000 SGD
Not to mention living expenses for our whole family for one year in Singapore.
According to Dr. Allen Yeoh, either way of treatment will succeed to some extent.
I was shocked at the huge amount of money because this amount of money is completely beyond our expectation. What do I have to do to get this amount of money in 6 months? My son’s life depends on our decision.
I look at him and I cannot think anything. All I can do at that moment is run out of the doors with tears running down my face. I have to calm down and think of some way to save my son. Even if I sold our own and only house, I would not have enough money to get out of this situation. What else can I do? It is my son’s life!
I decide to have him undergo the first phase of chemical treatment method. I only have 3 weeks to do all I can to get the money. My only hope is that some organisations can help me with the money. My son’s little tearful voice keeps spinning in my head, “Dad, please help me, please. Why do I have to suffer from this pain? Dad, tell me why?” My child is only 3.5 years old. I have to do something.
But what can I do now? I beg you for some advice, encouragement and strength, from your wisdom and experience so that I can bring some sunshine back to this little family.
Translator: He looks so small in his bed that is so big. It is not easy to translate the tearful pages of this diary. It breaks every little piece of my heart. So please, I beg you for some help for little Minh. After all, he’s just a 3 year-old child.
The healthy kid at home...
VietNamNet Bridge - Bui Duc Minh is just over 3 years old but he has suffered from blood cancer for almost one year already.
His parents, Trung and Thuy, are professors at Economics University in Hanoi, Vietnam. When they decided to take him to Singapore for special treatment in March 2008, the amount of white blood cells in his body had already reached 95% of his blood. His life seemed to be leaving him.
Little Minh told his father with tears from pain: “Dad, help. Please help me out of this.” Listening to him, feeling a sharp pain in his heart, Trung, his father, did not know what to do, since his treatment requires a large amount of money, approximately 200,000 SGD. If only he could give his son all his blood, he would do it without fail.
Here are some passages taken from his parents’ diary:
12th March 2008
This is the last day we stay here, at National Pediatrics Hospital. After spending half a year at this hospital and having more than 30 tests, the doctors still have failed to reach an exact conclusion about his disease. Little Minh has suffered too much from pain and all the long treatment. He can no longer stand it. He does not want to see anyone anymore.
Not until today did they find out that his symptoms show white blood cell marrow type M1 (acute lymphoblastic leukemia AML). The doctors say they are incapable of treating this case in Vietnam. The only hope is to take him to Singapore for special treatment.
And so we pack our things and make our way to Singapore.
19th March 2008
He is suffering from a high fever as we take him to Singapore. The number of white blood cells in his body is 400 % higher than in normal people. Little Minh cannot drink or eat. His nights are always interrupted with pains; he never has a full night’s sleep.
Right after we set foot at the airport, he had to check into the hospital immediately and go through an overall check for thirty minutes. All the results confirmed that he has acute lymphoblastic leukemia AML. He was then sent to a special room for treatment to overcome the immediate danger.
I cannot help my tears from falling during his chemical treatment process when I see him cry in pain and beg for help from his parents and family. What can I do??? At that moment, there’s nothing in my mind other than the thought I HAVE TO get him out of this pain, out of all this surgery. I never want to see him suffering from this pain again. I never want to see him scared when a nurse or a doctor comes close to him. Never.
25th March 2008
After every chemical treatment little Minh feels really tired and hurts. At home every time he gets a vaccine injection he forgets easily. Now 3 or 4 intravenous chemical treatment tubes never seem to leave his little hand. Whenever my child has a high fever, he has to have his blood checked again. There are days that he has to overcome 9 injections. The pain and fear bother him even in his dreams. Sometimes he is half-awake at night crying in his sleep and calling out to us, “Mom, dad, I’m scared…Why did this happen to me? Mom, Dad, tell me?...Why does it hurt me so much?…Please, please get me out of this pain. Mom...Dad...” His dreams and our sleep are full of tears and fearfulness for a suspended future. Once in a while it dawns on us, and we realise how far away we are from our home and from being a happy normal family.
... and the kid in hospital.
26th March 2008
We have talked to the doctor and the results are good. But the relief does not last long, as we are faced with another problem. There are only two ways of treating this disease, neither of which our family can afford:
1. Bone marrow transplant for 300.000 SGD
2. Chemotherapy for 220.000 SGD
Not to mention living expenses for our whole family for one year in Singapore.
According to Dr. Allen Yeoh, either way of treatment will succeed to some extent.
I was shocked at the huge amount of money because this amount of money is completely beyond our expectation. What do I have to do to get this amount of money in 6 months? My son’s life depends on our decision.
I look at him and I cannot think anything. All I can do at that moment is run out of the doors with tears running down my face. I have to calm down and think of some way to save my son. Even if I sold our own and only house, I would not have enough money to get out of this situation. What else can I do? It is my son’s life!
I decide to have him undergo the first phase of chemical treatment method. I only have 3 weeks to do all I can to get the money. My only hope is that some organisations can help me with the money. My son’s little tearful voice keeps spinning in my head, “Dad, please help me, please. Why do I have to suffer from this pain? Dad, tell me why?” My child is only 3.5 years old. I have to do something.
But what can I do now? I beg you for some advice, encouragement and strength, from your wisdom and experience so that I can bring some sunshine back to this little family.
Translator: He looks so small in his bed that is so big. It is not easy to translate the tearful pages of this diary. It breaks every little piece of my heart. So please, I beg you for some help for little Minh. After all, he’s just a 3 year-old child.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Faster compensation sought for displaced City residents
05:44' 17/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Resettlement housing is readied for occupancy at the Thanh My Loi new urban area in HCM City. The resettlement area is part of the Thu Thiem new urban area project.
VietNamNet Bridge - Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan has ordered goverment agencies to hasten compensation to displaced residents to make way for the construction of 12,500 apartments in the Thu Thiem new urban area.
Construction of three resettlement areas in Binh Khanh Ward will start in July to house residents in five wards displaced by the Thu Thiem project.
The first resettlement area located on 17.3ha will have 1,886 apartments, while the second area will include 4,200 apartments covering 30ha and the third, 6,500 apartments on 38.4ha.
Earlier, the city People’s Committee toured the area to survey the progress and set out a deadline for compensation and site clearance work in the Thu Thiem new urban area project.
The project has been delayed because of compensation and site clearance problems, which have raised the accumulative interest on construction item loans to VND583 million ($36,437) a day.
Resettlement housing is readied for occupancy at the Thanh My Loi new urban area in HCM City. The resettlement area is part of the Thu Thiem new urban area project.
VietNamNet Bridge - Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan has ordered goverment agencies to hasten compensation to displaced residents to make way for the construction of 12,500 apartments in the Thu Thiem new urban area.
Construction of three resettlement areas in Binh Khanh Ward will start in July to house residents in five wards displaced by the Thu Thiem project.
The first resettlement area located on 17.3ha will have 1,886 apartments, while the second area will include 4,200 apartments covering 30ha and the third, 6,500 apartments on 38.4ha.
Earlier, the city People’s Committee toured the area to survey the progress and set out a deadline for compensation and site clearance work in the Thu Thiem new urban area project.
The project has been delayed because of compensation and site clearance problems, which have raised the accumulative interest on construction item loans to VND583 million ($36,437) a day.
Quang Ninh’s Party Secretary threatened with assassination
11:40' 17/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung
VietNamNet Bridge – Party Secretary of the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh is now under local police’s 24/7 protection and transported by specialized car. Hung said the threat comes from illegal coal exploiters.
The official, Nguyen Duy Hung, received a mobile message on April 14, which says that illegal coal exploiters in Hon Gia, Quang Ninh, have hired gangsters to follow Hung’s every move and assassinate him.
According to Hung, illegal coal exploiters threaten him because of Quang Ninh’s campaign to combat illegal coal exploitation. Within three days, the local government seized up to 105 coal boats and more than 10,000 tons of illegally exploited coal. Around 200 other coal boats will be inspected.
The Party Secretary confirmed that despite the threat, there is no change in his family’s activities.
“My wife is quite worried. My children also know the threat. But I think the threat aims to make me pull back the campaign so I don’t worry,” Hung said.
However, the official reported the threat to the Ministry of Public Security. Local police have assigned bodyguards to protect Hung and his family 24/7 and carry the official from his house to office by specialized car.
On April 16, at a meeting with the Central Steering Board on Anti-corruption, Quang Ninh officials committed to fiercely combat illegal coal exploitation in the province.
There are different coal wharves and grounds owned by private firms in Quang Ninh. Some have used armed gangs to scramble for coal exploitation areas, etc., causing uncertainty in the province, illegal coal exploitation and exports.
China’s Guangxi reported the importation of 31 million tons of coal from Quang Ninh province last year, nearly double the official volume.
Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung
VietNamNet Bridge – Party Secretary of the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh is now under local police’s 24/7 protection and transported by specialized car. Hung said the threat comes from illegal coal exploiters.
The official, Nguyen Duy Hung, received a mobile message on April 14, which says that illegal coal exploiters in Hon Gia, Quang Ninh, have hired gangsters to follow Hung’s every move and assassinate him.
According to Hung, illegal coal exploiters threaten him because of Quang Ninh’s campaign to combat illegal coal exploitation. Within three days, the local government seized up to 105 coal boats and more than 10,000 tons of illegally exploited coal. Around 200 other coal boats will be inspected.
The Party Secretary confirmed that despite the threat, there is no change in his family’s activities.
“My wife is quite worried. My children also know the threat. But I think the threat aims to make me pull back the campaign so I don’t worry,” Hung said.
However, the official reported the threat to the Ministry of Public Security. Local police have assigned bodyguards to protect Hung and his family 24/7 and carry the official from his house to office by specialized car.
On April 16, at a meeting with the Central Steering Board on Anti-corruption, Quang Ninh officials committed to fiercely combat illegal coal exploitation in the province.
There are different coal wharves and grounds owned by private firms in Quang Ninh. Some have used armed gangs to scramble for coal exploitation areas, etc., causing uncertainty in the province, illegal coal exploitation and exports.
China’s Guangxi reported the importation of 31 million tons of coal from Quang Ninh province last year, nearly double the official volume.
Call to standardise social work
00:32' 18/04/2008 (GMT+7)
A teacher at the northern province of Hai Duong’s social sponsoring centre helps deaf children make clothes. There has been a call for the Government to issue laws regulating the role of social workers.
VietNamNet Bridge - Responding to a call for his Mum from a pale-skinned, paralysed boy, the nurse wipes food from his grubby face and continues to spoon-feed him.
It is part of a day’s work for Nguyen Thi Hao, who works at the Ha Noi Centre for Disabled Children and the Elderly.
"After spoon-feeding 10 paralysed children, I clean the house, then take all the children and wash their hands," Hao said.
The 42-year-old centre located at Ba Vi Township in Ha Tay Province has 72 social workers. Most are nurses.
They take care of 304 people, of whom 170 are elderly. The rest are disabled children. Twenty-eight are under five years of age and 15 are new-born babies.
"Some staff have worked at the centre for more than 10 years. The average monthly salary is VND1.5 million a head," said centre director Nguyen Trong Pham. "All work with the thought that it is relieving pain and discomfort for the unfortunate."
Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Bach Hong has said it’s time to professionalise social workers and put them on the State payroll.
At present, wages for social workers at centres for the elderly or children with HIV/AIDS in orphanages are paid by each centre.
Some social workers are forced to leave work at the centres to find a better income at health centres under the State payroll system.
"If medical exposure for social workers is the same, we must look for places where we are offered a better salary," said one worker at the Ba Vi Centre for HIV-infected children.
Social workers belong to groups enjoying a State monthly allowance.
The Ministry’s Social Sponsoring Department reports that in Viet Nam, there are 7.5 million old people, 5.3 million disabled people and 1.4 million children living in difficult conditions. All need the help of social workers.
Also in need of help are people in Viet Nam’s poorer communes, rural labourers pushed out of work because of rapid urbanisation and those suffering from the growing number of social evils.
However, there are only about 20,000 semi-professional social workers throughout the nation.
"Untrained social workers often lack essential skills and awareness about welfare work," said Nguyen Hai Huu, director of the Social Sponsoring Department. "As a result, job efficiency is far from that required."
For example, care givers for sick elderly people should have some medical skills, however urban families often employ untrained rural women to take care of patients at home.
Unclear role
The role of social workers in Viet Nam is unclear. Many people don’t understand what they are and what they are supposed to do, said deputy minister Hong.
He said Viet Nam was in the process of creating a legal corridor to develop social work as a professional career.
The Ministry has sent a draft to the Government on the subject. If approved, implemention will be carried out from 2009 to 2015.
According to the draft, social workers should be trained at college-university level in Viet Nam.
Hong said the social-worker network must keep pace with the development of the nation and focus on retraining grassroots welfare employees working at ward and commune-level.
The process should focus on building up key social workers. At least two should be provided for each district and 10 for each social sponsoring centre.
Key workers should return to retrain and develop the network in their workplaces.
(Source: VNS
A teacher at the northern province of Hai Duong’s social sponsoring centre helps deaf children make clothes. There has been a call for the Government to issue laws regulating the role of social workers.
VietNamNet Bridge - Responding to a call for his Mum from a pale-skinned, paralysed boy, the nurse wipes food from his grubby face and continues to spoon-feed him.
It is part of a day’s work for Nguyen Thi Hao, who works at the Ha Noi Centre for Disabled Children and the Elderly.
"After spoon-feeding 10 paralysed children, I clean the house, then take all the children and wash their hands," Hao said.
The 42-year-old centre located at Ba Vi Township in Ha Tay Province has 72 social workers. Most are nurses.
They take care of 304 people, of whom 170 are elderly. The rest are disabled children. Twenty-eight are under five years of age and 15 are new-born babies.
"Some staff have worked at the centre for more than 10 years. The average monthly salary is VND1.5 million a head," said centre director Nguyen Trong Pham. "All work with the thought that it is relieving pain and discomfort for the unfortunate."
Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Bach Hong has said it’s time to professionalise social workers and put them on the State payroll.
At present, wages for social workers at centres for the elderly or children with HIV/AIDS in orphanages are paid by each centre.
Some social workers are forced to leave work at the centres to find a better income at health centres under the State payroll system.
"If medical exposure for social workers is the same, we must look for places where we are offered a better salary," said one worker at the Ba Vi Centre for HIV-infected children.
Social workers belong to groups enjoying a State monthly allowance.
The Ministry’s Social Sponsoring Department reports that in Viet Nam, there are 7.5 million old people, 5.3 million disabled people and 1.4 million children living in difficult conditions. All need the help of social workers.
Also in need of help are people in Viet Nam’s poorer communes, rural labourers pushed out of work because of rapid urbanisation and those suffering from the growing number of social evils.
However, there are only about 20,000 semi-professional social workers throughout the nation.
"Untrained social workers often lack essential skills and awareness about welfare work," said Nguyen Hai Huu, director of the Social Sponsoring Department. "As a result, job efficiency is far from that required."
For example, care givers for sick elderly people should have some medical skills, however urban families often employ untrained rural women to take care of patients at home.
Unclear role
The role of social workers in Viet Nam is unclear. Many people don’t understand what they are and what they are supposed to do, said deputy minister Hong.
He said Viet Nam was in the process of creating a legal corridor to develop social work as a professional career.
The Ministry has sent a draft to the Government on the subject. If approved, implemention will be carried out from 2009 to 2015.
According to the draft, social workers should be trained at college-university level in Viet Nam.
Hong said the social-worker network must keep pace with the development of the nation and focus on retraining grassroots welfare employees working at ward and commune-level.
The process should focus on building up key social workers. At least two should be provided for each district and 10 for each social sponsoring centre.
Key workers should return to retrain and develop the network in their workplaces.
(Source: VNS
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Mekong Delta enjoys bumper rice crop
11:00' 15/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Farmers in the Mekong Delta are enjoying a bumper winter-spring rice crop. They have already harvested around 1.5 million tons of rice.
Nearly 20,000 tons are left to harvest. The average yield is reported to have reached 6.2 tons a hectare while total production exceeded 9.3 million tons.
At the same time, some farmers in the region have already started their upcoming summer-autumn crop. Dr. Mai Thanh Phung, member of the Steering Committee for Brown Hopper Prevention and Control, said that the currently higher prices of rice, ranging from VND4,500/kg – 5,200/kg, have encouraged farmers to increase production of the crop.
Up to now, farmers in the Mekong Delta, including the provinces of Vinh Long, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Long An, An Giang and Can Tho city, have sown nearly 400,000 hectares out of 1.6 million, doubled from last year.
In related news, the price of Tra and basa fish in the delta rose after a month of repeated drops.
In An Giang province and Can Tho city, a kilo of white–flesh Tra fish, used as a raw material for processed foods, ranges from VND15,200/kg to VND15,500/kg depending on its quality, Yellow-flesh Tra fish costs between VND14,000/kg-14,500/kg, up an average of VND1,000-2,000 a kilo compared to three weeks ago.
Many farmers have not yet sold their produce based on the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers’ forecast that the price of Tra fish will go up in a next few days due to increased demand for the filet of this kind of fish from Central America, the Middle East and Europe.
(Source: SGGP)
VietNamNet Bridge - Farmers in the Mekong Delta are enjoying a bumper winter-spring rice crop. They have already harvested around 1.5 million tons of rice.
Nearly 20,000 tons are left to harvest. The average yield is reported to have reached 6.2 tons a hectare while total production exceeded 9.3 million tons.
At the same time, some farmers in the region have already started their upcoming summer-autumn crop. Dr. Mai Thanh Phung, member of the Steering Committee for Brown Hopper Prevention and Control, said that the currently higher prices of rice, ranging from VND4,500/kg – 5,200/kg, have encouraged farmers to increase production of the crop.
Up to now, farmers in the Mekong Delta, including the provinces of Vinh Long, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Long An, An Giang and Can Tho city, have sown nearly 400,000 hectares out of 1.6 million, doubled from last year.
In related news, the price of Tra and basa fish in the delta rose after a month of repeated drops.
In An Giang province and Can Tho city, a kilo of white–flesh Tra fish, used as a raw material for processed foods, ranges from VND15,200/kg to VND15,500/kg depending on its quality, Yellow-flesh Tra fish costs between VND14,000/kg-14,500/kg, up an average of VND1,000-2,000 a kilo compared to three weeks ago.
Many farmers have not yet sold their produce based on the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers’ forecast that the price of Tra fish will go up in a next few days due to increased demand for the filet of this kind of fish from Central America, the Middle East and Europe.
(Source: SGGP)
Construction halts on Sai Gon Givral Hotel after worker dies
20:13' 15/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Work on the four-star Sai Gon Givral Hotel has been suspended after a collapse led to the death of one worker last Saturday.
It’s reported that three walls of the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy’s Herbal Medicine Faculty collapsed while workers were digging to build the external wall of the hotel. Phan Viet Hung, one of six workers, was seriously injured and later died in the hospital.
The 13-storey hotel, financed by the Sai Gon Givral Joint Stock Company, received a construction licence last December from the city’s Construction Department. Early this month, the company signed a contract with the Licogi 20 Company to build the foundation and walls of the hotel.
Deputy Chairman of Ward 8’s People’s Committee Pham Ngoc Trang said the Herbal Medicine Faculty has asked relevant authorities to examine the state of its building to ensure the safety of its properties and 500 teachers and students.
The investor and contractor have temporarily reinforced the faculty’s collapsed area. The incident is under investigation by the police, construction inspectors and local authorities.
VietNamNet Bridge - Work on the four-star Sai Gon Givral Hotel has been suspended after a collapse led to the death of one worker last Saturday.
It’s reported that three walls of the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy’s Herbal Medicine Faculty collapsed while workers were digging to build the external wall of the hotel. Phan Viet Hung, one of six workers, was seriously injured and later died in the hospital.
The 13-storey hotel, financed by the Sai Gon Givral Joint Stock Company, received a construction licence last December from the city’s Construction Department. Early this month, the company signed a contract with the Licogi 20 Company to build the foundation and walls of the hotel.
Deputy Chairman of Ward 8’s People’s Committee Pham Ngoc Trang said the Herbal Medicine Faculty has asked relevant authorities to examine the state of its building to ensure the safety of its properties and 500 teachers and students.
The investor and contractor have temporarily reinforced the faculty’s collapsed area. The incident is under investigation by the police, construction inspectors and local authorities.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Buddhist priest to return home for UN day of Vesak
President Nguyen Minh Triet meets Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh during Hanh's visit to Vietnam in May 2007
Buddhist priest Thich Nhat Hanh and a delegation of monks and nuns from Plum Village in France will be in Vietnam from April 22 until June 21 for the United Nation’s 2008 celebration of Buddha’s birthday.
The priest was invited by the Central Department of International Buddhist Affairs, the Vietnam Buddhist Association and the United Nations Day of Vesak International Organization Committee.
The delegation from France will work with their hosts to provide two courses while in Vietnam.
According to the itinerary, some 500 foreigners living and working in Vietnam will be able to attend a six-day retreat in Hanoi to study meditation and Buddhist thought.
Buddhist priest Thich Nhat Hanh and a delegation of monks and nuns from Plum Village in France will be in Vietnam from April 22 until June 21 for the United Nation’s 2008 celebration of Buddha’s birthday.
The priest was invited by the Central Department of International Buddhist Affairs, the Vietnam Buddhist Association and the United Nations Day of Vesak International Organization Committee.
The delegation from France will work with their hosts to provide two courses while in Vietnam.
According to the itinerary, some 500 foreigners living and working in Vietnam will be able to attend a six-day retreat in Hanoi to study meditation and Buddhist thought.
Energy-hungry Vietnam awaits first refinery
Vietnam, desperate to meet energy needs expanding at about twice the rate of its booming economy, is putting the final touches on its first oil refinery, with a second soon to follow.
The facility in central Dung Quat has been on the cards for more than a decade, but political spats, construction delays and even the make-up of the soil at the site have left the project in limbo.
Now, with authorities keen to cut imports of petroleum products as energy consumption soars, officials at state-run PetroVietnam and French oil services group Technip say the refinery should be operational by next year.
"We are very confident," said Dinh Van Ngoc, the deputy manager of the Dung Quat project for PetroVietnam, adding that production would begin in the first quarter of 2009.
The facility is expected to churn out 6.5 million tonnes a year from 2009 -- or a third of the communist country's needs.
With the economy growing at 8.5 percent in 2007, and energy demand on the rise, authorities are keen to cut down on costly imports. Last year, Vietnam spent eight billion dollars to import 12.55 million tonnes of refined oil.
Bruno Le Roy, the Technip engineer managing the construction site, says the refinery is "60 percent finished" -- but that progress has been a long time coming.
Launched 10 years ago at an initial price of 1.5 billion dollars, Dung Quat finally became a reality in 2005 after several foreign partners including French giant Total pulled out -- costing PetroVietnam another billion dollars.
The project first stalled over the proposed location of the refinery: Dung Quat in central Quang Ngai province -- far from both Vietnam's off-shore oil reserves and its commercial capital Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
Authorities are hoping that the refinery and the industrial zone built around it will create job opportunities for more than 20,000 people in the middle of the agriculture-heavy region.
"The only reason to build it in Dung Quat was to develop the centre," says Tony Foster, an attorney specialising in energy issues at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Last year, residents of Quang Ngai province had a per capita income of 500 dollars -- well below the 800-dollar national average.
Then, several more months were lost when the composition of the soil at Dung Quat did not match the specifications provided by PetroVietnam, forcing Technip to rethink the plans for the refinery's foundation, according to Le Roy.
The state-run Vietnamese group -- under pressure from Hanoi, which wants to see the refinery onstream as soon as possible -- placed the blame on Technip, saying it had not paid close enough attention to the details.
"We think our project is small for them," Ngoc said.
But Le Roy counters that the problem stems from the booming construction industry in Vietnam, saying there are simply not enough workers to complete the project. He has 8,000 workers at present, but needs 2,000 more.
"Quang Ngai is a region with no industrial tradition," Le Roy says. "The building materials arrive in either Ho Chi Minh City or ports near Hanoi. They then must be transferred here. Workers also must be brought in."
The Dung Quat project is "important both politically and from an energy security point of view," Foster notes.
"But most economists would say it was not the right way to do it."
PetroVietnam will have another chance to get things right with the Nghi Son refinery, to be built with companies from Japan and Kuwait for a total of six billion dollars.
The plant, to be operational by 2013, will have a targeted capacity of 10 million tonnes a year, and is to be located about 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Hanoi in Thanh Hoa province.
Vietnam's Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, has said the refinery would create about 10,000 jobs and would mostly supply the north, noting the facility was "crucial for energy security."
PetroVietnam -- its sights obviously set on export markets -- is mulling plans for a third refinery in the south of the country.
Source: AFP
The facility in central Dung Quat has been on the cards for more than a decade, but political spats, construction delays and even the make-up of the soil at the site have left the project in limbo.
Now, with authorities keen to cut imports of petroleum products as energy consumption soars, officials at state-run PetroVietnam and French oil services group Technip say the refinery should be operational by next year.
"We are very confident," said Dinh Van Ngoc, the deputy manager of the Dung Quat project for PetroVietnam, adding that production would begin in the first quarter of 2009.
The facility is expected to churn out 6.5 million tonnes a year from 2009 -- or a third of the communist country's needs.
With the economy growing at 8.5 percent in 2007, and energy demand on the rise, authorities are keen to cut down on costly imports. Last year, Vietnam spent eight billion dollars to import 12.55 million tonnes of refined oil.
Bruno Le Roy, the Technip engineer managing the construction site, says the refinery is "60 percent finished" -- but that progress has been a long time coming.
Launched 10 years ago at an initial price of 1.5 billion dollars, Dung Quat finally became a reality in 2005 after several foreign partners including French giant Total pulled out -- costing PetroVietnam another billion dollars.
The project first stalled over the proposed location of the refinery: Dung Quat in central Quang Ngai province -- far from both Vietnam's off-shore oil reserves and its commercial capital Ho Chi Minh City in the south.
Authorities are hoping that the refinery and the industrial zone built around it will create job opportunities for more than 20,000 people in the middle of the agriculture-heavy region.
"The only reason to build it in Dung Quat was to develop the centre," says Tony Foster, an attorney specialising in energy issues at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Last year, residents of Quang Ngai province had a per capita income of 500 dollars -- well below the 800-dollar national average.
Then, several more months were lost when the composition of the soil at Dung Quat did not match the specifications provided by PetroVietnam, forcing Technip to rethink the plans for the refinery's foundation, according to Le Roy.
The state-run Vietnamese group -- under pressure from Hanoi, which wants to see the refinery onstream as soon as possible -- placed the blame on Technip, saying it had not paid close enough attention to the details.
"We think our project is small for them," Ngoc said.
But Le Roy counters that the problem stems from the booming construction industry in Vietnam, saying there are simply not enough workers to complete the project. He has 8,000 workers at present, but needs 2,000 more.
"Quang Ngai is a region with no industrial tradition," Le Roy says. "The building materials arrive in either Ho Chi Minh City or ports near Hanoi. They then must be transferred here. Workers also must be brought in."
The Dung Quat project is "important both politically and from an energy security point of view," Foster notes.
"But most economists would say it was not the right way to do it."
PetroVietnam will have another chance to get things right with the Nghi Son refinery, to be built with companies from Japan and Kuwait for a total of six billion dollars.
The plant, to be operational by 2013, will have a targeted capacity of 10 million tonnes a year, and is to be located about 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Hanoi in Thanh Hoa province.
Vietnam's Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, has said the refinery would create about 10,000 jobs and would mostly supply the north, noting the facility was "crucial for energy security."
PetroVietnam -- its sights obviously set on export markets -- is mulling plans for a third refinery in the south of the country.
Source: AFP
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Rail ticket discount for AO/dioxin victims
12:13' 09/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – AO/dioxin victims are now eligible for a 20 percent discount on train tickets, the first ever promotion geared for this group.
This discount, which started this weekend, would run until the end of May in commemoration of May Day and the Liberation Day on April 30, said a Vietnam Railway Corporation representative.
Veterans imprisoned during the resistance wars are eligible for a 30 percent discount.
The discount for war invalids, the disabled and the old has been raised from 10 to 20 percent.
VietNamNet Bridge – AO/dioxin victims are now eligible for a 20 percent discount on train tickets, the first ever promotion geared for this group.
This discount, which started this weekend, would run until the end of May in commemoration of May Day and the Liberation Day on April 30, said a Vietnam Railway Corporation representative.
Veterans imprisoned during the resistance wars are eligible for a 30 percent discount.
The discount for war invalids, the disabled and the old has been raised from 10 to 20 percent.
Vice President warns against untreated wastes
12:45' 09/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on April 8 rang the bell on the rampant discharge of untreated solid and water wastes, alerting would-be serious consequences of the act on both present and future generations.
The Vice President raised the situation at a meeting to honour outstanding environment protectors and clean water suppliers in Hanoi on April 8.
Though there are individuals and units that have worked hard to protect the environment, many businesses have still put more efforts in doing business than in limiting environmental pollution, the State leader said.
“In the meantime, Vietnam is encountering climate changes imposed by industries,” Vice President Doan said, noting those challenges cause a threat to the nation’s energy and food security.
The Vice President called on industries and sectors to pour heavy and concentrated investment into the protection of environment.
The State leader also called for concerted efforts to raise public awareness on environmental protection and make the people change their behaviour to the environment.
The meeting, the first of its kind so far in Vietnam, brought together 600 representatives to share experiences on the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection and discuss measures to protect the country from climate changes.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment honoured 20 units and six individuals for contributions to the protection of environment.
Minister Pham Khoi Nguyen launched a drive to get people involved in protecting the environment in the 2008-2010 period.
VietNamNet Bridge – Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on April 8 rang the bell on the rampant discharge of untreated solid and water wastes, alerting would-be serious consequences of the act on both present and future generations.
The Vice President raised the situation at a meeting to honour outstanding environment protectors and clean water suppliers in Hanoi on April 8.
Though there are individuals and units that have worked hard to protect the environment, many businesses have still put more efforts in doing business than in limiting environmental pollution, the State leader said.
“In the meantime, Vietnam is encountering climate changes imposed by industries,” Vice President Doan said, noting those challenges cause a threat to the nation’s energy and food security.
The Vice President called on industries and sectors to pour heavy and concentrated investment into the protection of environment.
The State leader also called for concerted efforts to raise public awareness on environmental protection and make the people change their behaviour to the environment.
The meeting, the first of its kind so far in Vietnam, brought together 600 representatives to share experiences on the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection and discuss measures to protect the country from climate changes.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment honoured 20 units and six individuals for contributions to the protection of environment.
Minister Pham Khoi Nguyen launched a drive to get people involved in protecting the environment in the 2008-2010 period.
More than 23,000 workers sent aboard
11:42' 09/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam sent more than 23,000 people to work abroad in the first quarter of 2008, reported the Bureau of Administration on Overseas Workers under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).
The figure represents an increase of more than 17 percent over the same period last year.
The largest markets for labour export remained Malaysia, Qatar, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
The number of Vietnamese workers in markets such as the USA and Australia was limited because of their poor professional and foreign languages skills.
The MOLISA said it would assist labour export enterprises in holding vocational training courses. The focus would be on training in jobs that are in high demand in the international market so as to reach the target of sending abroad 85,000 workers this year.
The ministry also plans to establish some labour export training centres under the system of vocational schools.
At present, Vietnam has sent 500,000 people to work aboard.
VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam sent more than 23,000 people to work abroad in the first quarter of 2008, reported the Bureau of Administration on Overseas Workers under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).
The figure represents an increase of more than 17 percent over the same period last year.
The largest markets for labour export remained Malaysia, Qatar, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
The number of Vietnamese workers in markets such as the USA and Australia was limited because of their poor professional and foreign languages skills.
The MOLISA said it would assist labour export enterprises in holding vocational training courses. The focus would be on training in jobs that are in high demand in the international market so as to reach the target of sending abroad 85,000 workers this year.
The ministry also plans to establish some labour export training centres under the system of vocational schools.
At present, Vietnam has sent 500,000 people to work aboard.
Hanoi to disinfect lakes to fight cholera
17:14' 09/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi will start disinfecting around 30 lakes and ponds this Wednesday in a drive to keep cholera from spreading after health experts last week found the bacterium Vibrio cholerae in one of these bodies of water.
Linh Quang lake. (Photo: VNN)
At an emergency meeting in Hanoi on Monday, Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, vice chairwoman of Hanoi, told the Departments of Transport and Public Works, and Health to immediately disinfect and clean up the contaminated lakes and ponds in the city.
The water has been contaminated due to untreated wastewater discharged directly into the lakes, she said, adding this was the reason for cholera to spread.
The city asked district authorities to keep the environment clean, monitor the quality of water treatment plants and tighten control of food hygiene and safety.
Relevant State agencies should increase the monitoring of waste-water discharge and drainage systems while the Department of Health should monitor hospital waste, she said.
Last week, the city used 1.3 tons of chloramine B to disinfect Linh Quang lake where the cholera bacterium was detected last week. Health workers are also testing water samples from every lake and pond in the city. Around 68 people living around the lake have contracted cholera.
Hanoi closed Van Chuong market by Linh Quang lake to prevent the spread of the disease on Monday.
The city's Department of Health reported on Monday that over 200 people in the capital city had been hospitalized for diarrhea and that 44 of them had tested positive for cholera.
Nguyen Huy Nga, head of the Preventive Health Department of the Health Ministry, told the Daily on the phone that polluted water was the first cause of the escalating spread of the disease.
"To stamp out the epidemic, authorities and residents should tighten the monitoring of water quality by carrying out regular water tests," he said. "The public should be more aware of environment and food hygiene."
Nga warned the epidemic could boom in rural areas because 80% of the toilets there failed to meet hygiene standards and said it would be difficult to control the epidemic if waste continued being discharged into the lakes, ponds and other water sources.
Nga noted the demand for water would run high in the summer and there was a possibility of water shortages, which will in turn lead to haphazard water use in the population.
The provinces that are being hit by cholera are Ta Tay, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc, with nearly 100 patients testing positive for cholera.
HCMC on Monday began taking bold measures to monitor cholera in the city though the disease had yet to spread to the city.
Phan Van Nghiem, head of the Physicians Office under the HCMC Department of Health, said the department had ordered the hospitals to monitor all diarrhea cases and prepare sufficient drugs and facilities to deal with emergency cases.
No cholera cases have been detected in the city, but the city should be on high alert for the disease, so residents should make sure to use clean water, he said.
* The agriculture ministry's Department for Animal Health on Monday reported that blue ear disease remained to be out of control as new outbreaks were detected in Thanh Hoa Province.
The disease has hit 165 communes of 11 districts in the province and at least 37,557 pigs have been killed by the disease. To prevent the epidemic from spreading further, local animal health workers have culled 27,671 pigs.
The pig disease is still active in four provinces - Quang Nam, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Initial estimates by the agriculture ministry show Ha Tinh has 7,000 infected pigs, Nghe An 10,000 and Quang Nam 500.
The ministry forecast the disease would continue spreading, so health animal experts and market monitors should enhance coordination to prevent the illegal transport and trading of pigs in the affected areas.
VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi will start disinfecting around 30 lakes and ponds this Wednesday in a drive to keep cholera from spreading after health experts last week found the bacterium Vibrio cholerae in one of these bodies of water.
Linh Quang lake. (Photo: VNN)
At an emergency meeting in Hanoi on Monday, Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, vice chairwoman of Hanoi, told the Departments of Transport and Public Works, and Health to immediately disinfect and clean up the contaminated lakes and ponds in the city.
The water has been contaminated due to untreated wastewater discharged directly into the lakes, she said, adding this was the reason for cholera to spread.
The city asked district authorities to keep the environment clean, monitor the quality of water treatment plants and tighten control of food hygiene and safety.
Relevant State agencies should increase the monitoring of waste-water discharge and drainage systems while the Department of Health should monitor hospital waste, she said.
Last week, the city used 1.3 tons of chloramine B to disinfect Linh Quang lake where the cholera bacterium was detected last week. Health workers are also testing water samples from every lake and pond in the city. Around 68 people living around the lake have contracted cholera.
Hanoi closed Van Chuong market by Linh Quang lake to prevent the spread of the disease on Monday.
The city's Department of Health reported on Monday that over 200 people in the capital city had been hospitalized for diarrhea and that 44 of them had tested positive for cholera.
Nguyen Huy Nga, head of the Preventive Health Department of the Health Ministry, told the Daily on the phone that polluted water was the first cause of the escalating spread of the disease.
"To stamp out the epidemic, authorities and residents should tighten the monitoring of water quality by carrying out regular water tests," he said. "The public should be more aware of environment and food hygiene."
Nga warned the epidemic could boom in rural areas because 80% of the toilets there failed to meet hygiene standards and said it would be difficult to control the epidemic if waste continued being discharged into the lakes, ponds and other water sources.
Nga noted the demand for water would run high in the summer and there was a possibility of water shortages, which will in turn lead to haphazard water use in the population.
The provinces that are being hit by cholera are Ta Tay, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc, with nearly 100 patients testing positive for cholera.
HCMC on Monday began taking bold measures to monitor cholera in the city though the disease had yet to spread to the city.
Phan Van Nghiem, head of the Physicians Office under the HCMC Department of Health, said the department had ordered the hospitals to monitor all diarrhea cases and prepare sufficient drugs and facilities to deal with emergency cases.
No cholera cases have been detected in the city, but the city should be on high alert for the disease, so residents should make sure to use clean water, he said.
* The agriculture ministry's Department for Animal Health on Monday reported that blue ear disease remained to be out of control as new outbreaks were detected in Thanh Hoa Province.
The disease has hit 165 communes of 11 districts in the province and at least 37,557 pigs have been killed by the disease. To prevent the epidemic from spreading further, local animal health workers have culled 27,671 pigs.
The pig disease is still active in four provinces - Quang Nam, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Initial estimates by the agriculture ministry show Ha Tinh has 7,000 infected pigs, Nghe An 10,000 and Quang Nam 500.
The ministry forecast the disease would continue spreading, so health animal experts and market monitors should enhance coordination to prevent the illegal transport and trading of pigs in the affected areas.
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