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Rented ochna flowers proving a hit in HCMC
11:57 PM |Ochna blossom gardeners in HCM City say they can make a good living from renting the flowers when the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival is drawing near.
Erosion puts dyke network at risk in northern province
Labour export companies live off middlemen
Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 2 more dead
In the recent years, renting ochna blossoms, which are a symbol of Tet in southern Viet Nam, for displays has flourished among local residents as they prefer renting trees to spending a huge amount of money on buying them.
An ochna blossom gardener in Thu Duc District told Nong Thon Ngay Nay (Countryside Today) newspaper that the common rental service for two weeks varied from VND3million (USVND2,956,590) to VND5million (VND4,935,060).
Many gardeners could earn tens of millions of dong, even hundreds of millions of dong from the service.
Enterprises have also collected ochna blossoms from gardeners to sell them and offer rental service.
Lam Van Duc, director of Binh Loi Ltd Co, said that his company collected over 200 ochna trees from gardeners of Binh Chanh District's Binh Loi ochna blossom village for rent. Many of them have been ordered.
The rental rate is reasonable, from VND2million (VND1,978,470) to VND3million (VND2,956,590) per pot, he said.
Duc said that hiring ochna blossoms becomes trendy as the rental price is only 40 to 50 per cent compared to the selling price while flower quality is ensured. Customers do not have to worry about caring for the trees.
His company also covers services such as shipping trees for free or consulting customers with how to take care of blossoms to make sure they will bloom the brightest at Tet.
Read more…
Erosion puts dyke network at risk in northern province
Labour export companies live off middlemen
Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 2 more dead
In the recent years, renting ochna blossoms, which are a symbol of Tet in southern Viet Nam, for displays has flourished among local residents as they prefer renting trees to spending a huge amount of money on buying them.
A gardener in HCM City's Hiep Binh Chanh Commune nurses ochna blossom for Tet holiday. Renting the flowers is a service that helps local gardeners make a good living.
Many gardeners could earn tens of millions of dong, even hundreds of millions of dong from the service.
Enterprises have also collected ochna blossoms from gardeners to sell them and offer rental service.
Lam Van Duc, director of Binh Loi Ltd Co, said that his company collected over 200 ochna trees from gardeners of Binh Chanh District's Binh Loi ochna blossom village for rent. Many of them have been ordered.
The rental rate is reasonable, from VND2million (VND1,978,470) to VND3million (VND2,956,590) per pot, he said.
Duc said that hiring ochna blossoms becomes trendy as the rental price is only 40 to 50 per cent compared to the selling price while flower quality is ensured. Customers do not have to worry about caring for the trees.
His company also covers services such as shipping trees for free or consulting customers with how to take care of blossoms to make sure they will bloom the brightest at Tet.
Loan extension for cold spell victims
10:55 PM |The Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) has announced it will provide loan term extensions for households suffering from the recent cold spell.
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city
The extension of up to three years will be applied to families with damage reported at between 40 and 80 per cent, and up to five years to households with damage reported above 80 per cent.
During the extended terms, these debtors will not be required to pay interest.
The provision of additional loans will also be considered based on local demand.
By Thursday, more than 5,000 people, who have borrowed a total amount of VND127.3 billion (USVND126,711 million) from the VBSP, had taken the brunt of the dreadful weather.
Damage was calculated at 12,300 dead farm animals and about 10,725 hectares of destroyed farming areas.
The Husbandry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed cities and provinces affected by the cold to take all necessary measures to ease the damage caused by the weather to the animal breeding sector.
The municipal and provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development were requested to send working groups to help locals minimise losses.
Agencies should regularly update farmers with weather conditions via mass media, the Husbandry Department said.
It also asked localities to take the initiative in using their own budgets to fight cold spells and overcome any consequences.
Local farmers should be guided to raise their cattle with on-the-spot feed, not let them wander during cold days and decontaminate breeding facilities in order to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Localities were requested to propose recovery plans and provide farmers with breeding stock and animal feed after the cold spell.
Deputy PM in Sa Pa
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday inspected recovery efforts in Sa Pa district, in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai following the recent severe cold spell.
Together with Bat Xat, Sa Pa is one of the localities hardest hit by the cold, suffering temperatures as low as -4.2 degrees Celsius – the coldest in the past 60 years.
Snow blanketed 18 communes and townships, disrupting traffic and agro-forestry production.
The cold weather also killed 168 cattle in more than 120 poor and near-poor households and damaged 250ha of vegetables in nearly 950 households, resulting in billions of dong of losses.
Eighty per cent of water pipelines in the locality have been frozen.
The Deputy PM, who is also head of the Steering Committee for the Northwestern Region, took the occasion to call for all possible resources to restore production and help locals stabilise their lives.
The Ministry of Finance was requested to provide funding for recovery efforts while the Health Ministry is to supply medicines to affected families.
He also suggested the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Bank for Social Policies help with funding for production and farming.
Phuc hoped that local authorities would ensure social welfare services to residents and bring them a warm and happy Lunar New Year festival.
The Viet Nam Red Cross Society, credit organisations and local firms presented gifts worth VND2.9 billion (VND2,912,130,000) to affected families.
Cold hits fish breeders
Over 130 tonnes of fish bred in pond and 60,000 kilogrammes of baby fish in Thai Binh Northern province's Thai Thuy District died from the record chill in the week.
Thai Thuy authorities have issued guidelines to aquiculture breeders to apply urgent measures to protect aquatic life. Dropping water hyacinth over one-third of the water surface to stop winds, and covering the pond surface with canvas or nylon were among the urgent measures suggested during the record chill, which caused vast damage to local farming households.
The dead fish were mainly in Thuy Hai, Thai Thuong, and Thuy Xuan communes.
Initial reports from Thai Thuy District authorities revealed 140ha of fish breeding area suffered damage in the cold spell with temperatures plummeting to under 6o Celsius.
Local shrimp breeders were fortunate to sell out all their produce before the cold spell hit the area, an official from district authorities said.
Fish breeder Nguyen Trung Dac in Tam Dong Village of Thuy Hai Commune said in tears, "My family has 1.5ha of perch breeding area. The 18-month-old fish was ready to be consumed during Tet. On Sunday morning, I saw dead fish scattered on the water surface and on Monday, we were heartbroken after seeing dead fish belly up in the pond."
Before this cold spell, Dac estimated that revenue from his fish pond would be up VND600 to VND700 million (VND591,318,000-31,100).
Thuy Hai Commune's Dai Dong fish breeding co-operative has 60ha of perch and garrupa among a total 100ha of aquaculture area.
A co-operative farmer said bred fish cannot adapt to a sudden drop in the temperature and died en masse.
Many local breeders suffered heavy losses, and some had lost half of their bred fish.
Thuy Xuan Commune has 200 fish breeders in a total area of 49ha. Local authorities estimated that half the breeders suffered losses during the chill with maximum dead fish up to 1.5 tonnes per breeder.
Some breeders tried to sell live small fish but the price was too low, at about VND22,230 per kilogrammes
Read more…
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city
The extension of up to three years will be applied to families with damage reported at between 40 and 80 per cent, and up to five years to households with damage reported above 80 per cent.
Fish breeders in northern Thai Binh Province's Thai Thuy District suffer losses as hundreds of tonnes of their fish died from record cold spell.
During the extended terms, these debtors will not be required to pay interest.
The provision of additional loans will also be considered based on local demand.
By Thursday, more than 5,000 people, who have borrowed a total amount of VND127.3 billion (USVND126,711 million) from the VBSP, had taken the brunt of the dreadful weather.
Damage was calculated at 12,300 dead farm animals and about 10,725 hectares of destroyed farming areas.
The Husbandry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed cities and provinces affected by the cold to take all necessary measures to ease the damage caused by the weather to the animal breeding sector.
The municipal and provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development were requested to send working groups to help locals minimise losses.
Agencies should regularly update farmers with weather conditions via mass media, the Husbandry Department said.
It also asked localities to take the initiative in using their own budgets to fight cold spells and overcome any consequences.
Local farmers should be guided to raise their cattle with on-the-spot feed, not let them wander during cold days and decontaminate breeding facilities in order to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Localities were requested to propose recovery plans and provide farmers with breeding stock and animal feed after the cold spell.
Deputy PM in Sa Pa
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday inspected recovery efforts in Sa Pa district, in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai following the recent severe cold spell.
Together with Bat Xat, Sa Pa is one of the localities hardest hit by the cold, suffering temperatures as low as -4.2 degrees Celsius – the coldest in the past 60 years.
Snow blanketed 18 communes and townships, disrupting traffic and agro-forestry production.
The cold weather also killed 168 cattle in more than 120 poor and near-poor households and damaged 250ha of vegetables in nearly 950 households, resulting in billions of dong of losses.
Eighty per cent of water pipelines in the locality have been frozen.
The Deputy PM, who is also head of the Steering Committee for the Northwestern Region, took the occasion to call for all possible resources to restore production and help locals stabilise their lives.
The Ministry of Finance was requested to provide funding for recovery efforts while the Health Ministry is to supply medicines to affected families.
He also suggested the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Bank for Social Policies help with funding for production and farming.
Phuc hoped that local authorities would ensure social welfare services to residents and bring them a warm and happy Lunar New Year festival.
The Viet Nam Red Cross Society, credit organisations and local firms presented gifts worth VND2.9 billion (VND2,912,130,000) to affected families.
Cold hits fish breeders
Over 130 tonnes of fish bred in pond and 60,000 kilogrammes of baby fish in Thai Binh Northern province's Thai Thuy District died from the record chill in the week.
Thai Thuy authorities have issued guidelines to aquiculture breeders to apply urgent measures to protect aquatic life. Dropping water hyacinth over one-third of the water surface to stop winds, and covering the pond surface with canvas or nylon were among the urgent measures suggested during the record chill, which caused vast damage to local farming households.
The dead fish were mainly in Thuy Hai, Thai Thuong, and Thuy Xuan communes.
Initial reports from Thai Thuy District authorities revealed 140ha of fish breeding area suffered damage in the cold spell with temperatures plummeting to under 6o Celsius.
Local shrimp breeders were fortunate to sell out all their produce before the cold spell hit the area, an official from district authorities said.
Fish breeder Nguyen Trung Dac in Tam Dong Village of Thuy Hai Commune said in tears, "My family has 1.5ha of perch breeding area. The 18-month-old fish was ready to be consumed during Tet. On Sunday morning, I saw dead fish scattered on the water surface and on Monday, we were heartbroken after seeing dead fish belly up in the pond."
Before this cold spell, Dac estimated that revenue from his fish pond would be up VND600 to VND700 million (VND591,318,000-31,100).
Thuy Hai Commune's Dai Dong fish breeding co-operative has 60ha of perch and garrupa among a total 100ha of aquaculture area.
A co-operative farmer said bred fish cannot adapt to a sudden drop in the temperature and died en masse.
Many local breeders suffered heavy losses, and some had lost half of their bred fish.
Thuy Xuan Commune has 200 fish breeders in a total area of 49ha. Local authorities estimated that half the breeders suffered losses during the chill with maximum dead fish up to 1.5 tonnes per breeder.
Some breeders tried to sell live small fish but the price was too low, at about VND22,230 per kilogrammes
Hai Duong lychees win US order
6:37 PM |Farmers in Hai Duong Province's Thanh Thuy Commune are preparing to export their first lychee crop to the US.
Nigerian tests negative for Ebola, discharged from hospital
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
One of the busy lychee farmers, Nguyen Thi Lua, was among 87 households in the commune chosen for a lychee-export programme, under which agricultural officials would give her technical support, guidance and safe pesticides to use. She signed a commitment to follow the Vietnamese good agricultural practice (VietGAP) standards, which meant not using pesticides that contained banned substances. Her family has 19 lychee trees, which yielded 1.5 tonnes of lychee in 2014.
Thanh Thuy Commune has 25 hectares of lychee under the VietGap standards, including 10 hectares for export to the US. Hai Duong Province has 10,500 hectares of lychee, and uses the VietGAP standards for about 1,000 hectares each year.
Trinh Xuan Khoa, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Thuy Commune, said most agricultural land in the commune had been converted into lychee farms.
Earlier this month, the US inspected and gave codes to two lychee cultivation areas totalling 20 hectares in Hai Duong, he said.
Vu Thi Ha, deputy head of the Hai Duong Agriculture and Rural Development Department, said six agricultural officials had been sent to the lychee fields to work with farmers and advise them on the production process.
This first lychee crop could pave the way for more opportunities to export products to the US.
"We believe that under the VietGap standards, the quality of our lychees will improve and we'll be able to increase prices," Lua said.
Growing lychee is the primary livelihood of farmers in the province. A number of efforts have been made to seek new markets for the product.
Read more…
Nigerian tests negative for Ebola, discharged from hospital
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
One of the busy lychee farmers, Nguyen Thi Lua, was among 87 households in the commune chosen for a lychee-export programme, under which agricultural officials would give her technical support, guidance and safe pesticides to use. She signed a commitment to follow the Vietnamese good agricultural practice (VietGAP) standards, which meant not using pesticides that contained banned substances. Her family has 19 lychee trees, which yielded 1.5 tonnes of lychee in 2014.
Farmers transport lychees from Bac Giang Province to different areas. This year, farmers in Hai Duong Province's Thanh Thuy Commune are preparing to make their first lychee shipment to the US.
Trinh Xuan Khoa, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Thuy Commune, said most agricultural land in the commune had been converted into lychee farms.
Earlier this month, the US inspected and gave codes to two lychee cultivation areas totalling 20 hectares in Hai Duong, he said.
Vu Thi Ha, deputy head of the Hai Duong Agriculture and Rural Development Department, said six agricultural officials had been sent to the lychee fields to work with farmers and advise them on the production process.
This first lychee crop could pave the way for more opportunities to export products to the US.
"We believe that under the VietGap standards, the quality of our lychees will improve and we'll be able to increase prices," Lua said.
Growing lychee is the primary livelihood of farmers in the province. A number of efforts have been made to seek new markets for the product.
Seasonal job seekers have ample options
2:30 PM |Every year when Tet approaches, students rush out to search for seasonal jobs to earn money for their trips home for the holiday.
No more cars
Mekong farmers cash in on fragrant rice
Nigerian tests negative for Ebola, discharged from hospital
This year, students in HCM City stand a good chance of landing these positions, though experts warn them to be cautious when searching for jobs online, as many scams have been cropping up.
Nguyen Trong Hoang of the HCM City Student Support Centre said there are ample seasonal job opportunities for students this year. More than 350 companies have registered with the centre to employ students part-time.
"These days, such jobs are posted in a wide range of channels, at the city's job centres or at students' associations in colleges," he told Nhan Dan (People) newspaper.
Hoang's centre introduced a special programme running from December 15, 2014 to February 14, 2015 that has given students 4,000 seasonal Tet positions, like receptionist, promotion girl, salesperson, waiter, customer service assistant and cashier. The average hourly wages range from VND15,000 (US$0.71) to 30,000 ($1.4), while the average monthly salary is between VND3 and 6 million ($140 and $280).
Statistics from the centre show that number of jobs advertised at the centre has increased 10 to 15 per cent, compared with years before. The number of students seeking jobs with the centre has increased this year as well.
Meanwhile, at the HCM-City-based Centre for Vocational Orientation and Training and Job Introduction, which is under the city's Youth Union, there are many urgent employment offers. The jobs offered there are also seasonal, such as confectionary and vegetable packaging, cosmetics promotion, electronics assembly and grocery delivery. Monthly salaries range from VND3.2 to 4.2 million ($150 to $200).
Votec, a vocational training and labour supply centre in District 10, has up to 600 job offers, a third of which are in hospitality, with salaries of VND2.5 to 3.5 million ($120 to $165). Other jobs concern delivery and supervision. The Centre for Support to Economic Development and Labour Supply is advertising 500 jobs, which are also seasonal. The pay ranges from VND15,000 to 20,000 (about $1) per hour.
Caution advised
Experts advise job seekers to remain cautious when searching for jobs online.
Tran Thi Binh, a second-year student at Van Lang University, said last year she worked as a receptionist at a restaurant that specialised in wedding parties to make some money to go home for Tet. Right before she asked for her pay so she could go home, Binh was told her earnings had been deducted for some unreasonable things: her make-up had been too light, she had used a cell phone at work and she hadn't smiled enough.
Another case is Dinh Dieu Lien, a third-year student at the Industry and Trade College. Lien said she still hasn't been paid for time spent working as a promotion girl for a programme that ended a long time ago.
"After many failed calls to the people who interviewed me for the job, I finally realized I had been cheated," Lien said.
Hoang from the HCM City Student Support Centre said students needed to stay alert when searching for jobs on the internet. They should be wary of jobs that are advertised as easy but offer unusually high pay, he said. Students are also advised to show up at prestigious or well-known job centres, instead of going through less legitimate sources. They should be cautious when asked to place a deposit and read their contracts carefully before signing them
Read more…
No more cars
Mekong farmers cash in on fragrant rice
Nigerian tests negative for Ebola, discharged from hospital
This year, students in HCM City stand a good chance of landing these positions, though experts warn them to be cautious when searching for jobs online, as many scams have been cropping up.
Nguyen Trong Hoang of the HCM City Student Support Centre said there are ample seasonal job opportunities for students this year. More than 350 companies have registered with the centre to employ students part-time.
Students seek employment at a job fair in HCM City. Many students rush out to search for seasonal jobs to earn money for their trips home for Tet.
"These days, such jobs are posted in a wide range of channels, at the city's job centres or at students' associations in colleges," he told Nhan Dan (People) newspaper.
Hoang's centre introduced a special programme running from December 15, 2014 to February 14, 2015 that has given students 4,000 seasonal Tet positions, like receptionist, promotion girl, salesperson, waiter, customer service assistant and cashier. The average hourly wages range from VND15,000 (US$0.71) to 30,000 ($1.4), while the average monthly salary is between VND3 and 6 million ($140 and $280).
Statistics from the centre show that number of jobs advertised at the centre has increased 10 to 15 per cent, compared with years before. The number of students seeking jobs with the centre has increased this year as well.
Meanwhile, at the HCM-City-based Centre for Vocational Orientation and Training and Job Introduction, which is under the city's Youth Union, there are many urgent employment offers. The jobs offered there are also seasonal, such as confectionary and vegetable packaging, cosmetics promotion, electronics assembly and grocery delivery. Monthly salaries range from VND3.2 to 4.2 million ($150 to $200).
Votec, a vocational training and labour supply centre in District 10, has up to 600 job offers, a third of which are in hospitality, with salaries of VND2.5 to 3.5 million ($120 to $165). Other jobs concern delivery and supervision. The Centre for Support to Economic Development and Labour Supply is advertising 500 jobs, which are also seasonal. The pay ranges from VND15,000 to 20,000 (about $1) per hour.
Caution advised
Experts advise job seekers to remain cautious when searching for jobs online.
Tran Thi Binh, a second-year student at Van Lang University, said last year she worked as a receptionist at a restaurant that specialised in wedding parties to make some money to go home for Tet. Right before she asked for her pay so she could go home, Binh was told her earnings had been deducted for some unreasonable things: her make-up had been too light, she had used a cell phone at work and she hadn't smiled enough.
Another case is Dinh Dieu Lien, a third-year student at the Industry and Trade College. Lien said she still hasn't been paid for time spent working as a promotion girl for a programme that ended a long time ago.
"After many failed calls to the people who interviewed me for the job, I finally realized I had been cheated," Lien said.
Hoang from the HCM City Student Support Centre said students needed to stay alert when searching for jobs on the internet. They should be wary of jobs that are advertised as easy but offer unusually high pay, he said. Students are also advised to show up at prestigious or well-known job centres, instead of going through less legitimate sources. They should be cautious when asked to place a deposit and read their contracts carefully before signing them
Transport firms fail to cut fares
2:26 PM |Four inspection teams have been set up by the Ministry of Transport to supervise transport fees among transport enterprises as fuel prices continue to drop, already two times in the first month of the year.
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city
Thai Van Chung, General Secretary of HCM City Transport Association, said that while many transport enterprises managed by the organisation have reduced their fares from 10 to 15 per cent following drops in fuel price, 70 other enterprises had yet to make any cuts.
Chung said these enterprises cited many excuses for not having done so.
"They said traffic jams or long lines at toll booths caused their vehicles to consume more fuel," Chung said.
The Ministry of Finance requested in December that central provinces and cities ensure that fares matched fuel price's downward regression.
Several representatives from the ministry reported that many enterprises, however, had refused to publicize what their new fares would be.
The General Secretary said that transport fares are regulated by the market and authorities could only encourage enterprises to reduce their fares.
The most recent document issued by the Ministry of Transport sets up inspection special teams aimed at tackling the issue of unresponsive enterprises.
Nguyen Van Huyen, General Director of the ministry's Directorate for Roads, said enterprises have to declare with the ministry the specific inputs and costs to justify their fares. When fuel price goes down, it is largely assumed that fares would reflect this change.
"If an enterprise does not reduce their fare, it means they made a false declaration of their fare components, and that means they didn't pay taxes properly and need to be examined," Huyen said.
Huyen publicly announced names of enterprises that had failed to reduce transport fares so that customers can make their own decision about whether to enlist their services.
"It might be appropriate at this time to consider boycotting such enterprises," Huyen said.
Meanwhile, the finance ministry suggested stronger punishment, fining those who do not reduce their fares.
Since November last year, taxi firms have reduced fares by VND500 to 1,000 (2.4 to 4.8 US cents) per kilometer. Other types of transport companies have also lowered their rates by 10 to 15 per cent.
On January 6, retail petrol prices were cut by VND310 (1 cent) per litre. Prices for a litre of RON 92 and E5 gasoline were slashed to VND17,570 (US$0.81), while the price of diesel was reduced to VND16,630 ($0.77) per litre.
On January 21 the prices dropped again. RON92 dropped by VND1,897 per litre; diesel by VND1,459 per litre; fuel oil by VND1,494 per litre; and mazut oil by VND1,078 per kilogram
Read more…
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city
Thai Van Chung, General Secretary of HCM City Transport Association, said that while many transport enterprises managed by the organisation have reduced their fares from 10 to 15 per cent following drops in fuel price, 70 other enterprises had yet to make any cuts.
Chung said these enterprises cited many excuses for not having done so.
"They said traffic jams or long lines at toll booths caused their vehicles to consume more fuel," Chung said.
Coaches at the Southern Coach Station in Ha Noi. Four inspection teams will supervise transport fees among transport enterprises as fuel prices continue to drop. The price has already decreased twice in the first month of the year.
The Ministry of Finance requested in December that central provinces and cities ensure that fares matched fuel price's downward regression.
Several representatives from the ministry reported that many enterprises, however, had refused to publicize what their new fares would be.
The General Secretary said that transport fares are regulated by the market and authorities could only encourage enterprises to reduce their fares.
The most recent document issued by the Ministry of Transport sets up inspection special teams aimed at tackling the issue of unresponsive enterprises.
Nguyen Van Huyen, General Director of the ministry's Directorate for Roads, said enterprises have to declare with the ministry the specific inputs and costs to justify their fares. When fuel price goes down, it is largely assumed that fares would reflect this change.
"If an enterprise does not reduce their fare, it means they made a false declaration of their fare components, and that means they didn't pay taxes properly and need to be examined," Huyen said.
Huyen publicly announced names of enterprises that had failed to reduce transport fares so that customers can make their own decision about whether to enlist their services.
"It might be appropriate at this time to consider boycotting such enterprises," Huyen said.
Meanwhile, the finance ministry suggested stronger punishment, fining those who do not reduce their fares.
Since November last year, taxi firms have reduced fares by VND500 to 1,000 (2.4 to 4.8 US cents) per kilometer. Other types of transport companies have also lowered their rates by 10 to 15 per cent.
On January 6, retail petrol prices were cut by VND310 (1 cent) per litre. Prices for a litre of RON 92 and E5 gasoline were slashed to VND17,570 (US$0.81), while the price of diesel was reduced to VND16,630 ($0.77) per litre.
On January 21 the prices dropped again. RON92 dropped by VND1,897 per litre; diesel by VND1,459 per litre; fuel oil by VND1,494 per litre; and mazut oil by VND1,078 per kilogram
Finland to help VN develop smart cities
7:26 PM |Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs said yesterday that his country would help Viet Nam achieve ambitious targets for smart and green cities by providing assistance in sustainable urban planning, industrial design, clean technologies and digital services, along with education and training.
Timber farmers out of the loop
Farmers to grow alternative crops
Revolutionary heroine passes away
Speaking at a seminar held in HCM City, Jan Vanpaavuori said that smart cities used innovative solutions to energy, environment, digitalisation, transportation and habitation to make everyday life easier.
"The fast urbanisation and dynamic modernisation process in Viet Nam has increased demand for energy efficiency, smart transport and modern city infrastructure. This enormous growth potential makes Viet Nam a very interesting partner in the Smart City area," he said.
Vanpaavuori said Finland had invested a great deal in demand-driven innovations and new business solutions, assisted by forward-thinking companies
While solutions can be complex and involve several fields, the focus is on smart and energy-efficient buildings, transport solutions, low-emission energy systems and intelligent city infrastructure like smart grids, heating and cooling, transportation and waste- and water-management systems.
He said the strengths of the Finnish economy and industries complemented Viet Nam's development needs and challenges.
Finnish companies have already been contributing to Viet Nam's Green City targets in a number of ventures.
The International Cleantech Venture Finland has for several years developed waste-to-energy plants in Viet Nam and has a long-term partnership with Hai Phong City and Long An Province.
By applying these proven and tested Finnish technologies and methods to municipal waste plants, Viet Nam is able to produce electricity more efficiently.
In the area of urban infrastructure development, the WSP Finland company has worked with the Viet Nam for Water and Sanitation Program for Small Towns, designing many bridges.
It has also taken part in the development of HCM City's Thu Thiem New Urban Area, which is expected to become a financial centre along with residential buildings.
Experts estimate that the population of cities will increase from 3.3 billion to nearly 5 billion by 2030.
On one hand, urbanisation can improve the quality of life by moving people out of poverty and increasing education levels, but it has negative aspects as well.
"With fast-growing and transforming cities, we are faced with challenges like air pollution, traffic problems, poor or non-existing city planning, lack of space and sustainable energy solutions. If not taken care of, at worst this leads to serious socio-economic and environmental problems," Vanpaavuori said.
Le Manh Ha, Deputy Chairman of HCM City People's Committee, said the city wanted to become a smart city by using IT in urban management.
"The city wants to access advanced technology from Finland in urban design, traffic management organisation and wastewater management so that we can create sustainable urbanisation and a growth model," he said.
Jaani Heinonen, deputy director general of Team Finland, emphasised that appropriate policies were critically important in creating smart cities as they can hasten or slow progress.
Governments should create favourable conditions for innovation, growth, entrepreneurship and education, he added.
Cross-border co-operation and interaction between different players, including users and the public and private sectors, are also important.
The Finnish delegation visiting Viet Nam represented a wide range of different fields, including ICT and clean-tech solutions.
Read more…
Timber farmers out of the loop
Farmers to grow alternative crops
Revolutionary heroine passes away
Speaking at a seminar held in HCM City, Jan Vanpaavuori said that smart cities used innovative solutions to energy, environment, digitalisation, transportation and habitation to make everyday life easier.
"The fast urbanisation and dynamic modernisation process in Viet Nam has increased demand for energy efficiency, smart transport and modern city infrastructure. This enormous growth potential makes Viet Nam a very interesting partner in the Smart City area," he said.
The seminar held in HCM City yesterday.
Vanpaavuori said Finland had invested a great deal in demand-driven innovations and new business solutions, assisted by forward-thinking companies
While solutions can be complex and involve several fields, the focus is on smart and energy-efficient buildings, transport solutions, low-emission energy systems and intelligent city infrastructure like smart grids, heating and cooling, transportation and waste- and water-management systems.
He said the strengths of the Finnish economy and industries complemented Viet Nam's development needs and challenges.
Finnish companies have already been contributing to Viet Nam's Green City targets in a number of ventures.
The International Cleantech Venture Finland has for several years developed waste-to-energy plants in Viet Nam and has a long-term partnership with Hai Phong City and Long An Province.
By applying these proven and tested Finnish technologies and methods to municipal waste plants, Viet Nam is able to produce electricity more efficiently.
In the area of urban infrastructure development, the WSP Finland company has worked with the Viet Nam for Water and Sanitation Program for Small Towns, designing many bridges.
It has also taken part in the development of HCM City's Thu Thiem New Urban Area, which is expected to become a financial centre along with residential buildings.
Experts estimate that the population of cities will increase from 3.3 billion to nearly 5 billion by 2030.
On one hand, urbanisation can improve the quality of life by moving people out of poverty and increasing education levels, but it has negative aspects as well.
"With fast-growing and transforming cities, we are faced with challenges like air pollution, traffic problems, poor or non-existing city planning, lack of space and sustainable energy solutions. If not taken care of, at worst this leads to serious socio-economic and environmental problems," Vanpaavuori said.
Le Manh Ha, Deputy Chairman of HCM City People's Committee, said the city wanted to become a smart city by using IT in urban management.
"The city wants to access advanced technology from Finland in urban design, traffic management organisation and wastewater management so that we can create sustainable urbanisation and a growth model," he said.
Jaani Heinonen, deputy director general of Team Finland, emphasised that appropriate policies were critically important in creating smart cities as they can hasten or slow progress.
Governments should create favourable conditions for innovation, growth, entrepreneurship and education, he added.
Cross-border co-operation and interaction between different players, including users and the public and private sectors, are also important.
The Finnish delegation visiting Viet Nam represented a wide range of different fields, including ICT and clean-tech solutions.
Viet Nam ready for 10th ASEAN Skills Competition
6:45 PM |Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Welfare Pham Thi Hai Chuyen visited the National Convention Centre in Ha Noi on October 21 to inspect preparations for the 10th ASEAN Skills Competition whose opening ceremony will take place on October 23.
Delta farmers enjoy biggest catch of the year
Poor infrastructure holding back central provinces: Deputy PM
SAV to focus on IT infrastructure
The minister asked the organising board to well do inspection and supervision works in order ensure safety for competitors and participants at the event.
The biennial event aims to promote and improve vocational skills in the region so that they can meet international standards.
Themed "Skills-Our intrinsic values", this year's event will last until October 29.
It draws about 300 young workers, under the age of 22, from 10 ASEAN member countries competing in 23 occupational skills and two performance skills.
The event also sees nearly 700 foreign guests as technical experts, teachers, observers and thousands of students.
Vietnam first hosted the ASEAN competition in 2004, topping the medal tally with 13 of the 18 gold medals. At the 9th event in Indonesia in 2012, the country came second, with 44 workers competing in 22 skills.
Read more…
Delta farmers enjoy biggest catch of the year
Poor infrastructure holding back central provinces: Deputy PM
SAV to focus on IT infrastructure
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Welfare Pham Thi Hai Chuyen (M) inspects preparations for the 10th ASEAN Skills Competition
The minister asked the organising board to well do inspection and supervision works in order ensure safety for competitors and participants at the event.
The biennial event aims to promote and improve vocational skills in the region so that they can meet international standards.
Themed "Skills-Our intrinsic values", this year's event will last until October 29.
It draws about 300 young workers, under the age of 22, from 10 ASEAN member countries competing in 23 occupational skills and two performance skills.
The event also sees nearly 700 foreign guests as technical experts, teachers, observers and thousands of students.
Vietnam first hosted the ASEAN competition in 2004, topping the medal tally with 13 of the 18 gold medals. At the 9th event in Indonesia in 2012, the country came second, with 44 workers competing in 22 skills.
CAAV disputes poor Asia rating for airports
6:42 PM |Tan Son Nhat in HCM City and Noi Bai in Ha Noi are not among the worst airports in Asia, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam (CAAV), which disputed their recent poor rankings on an international survey site.
Two injured in train-truck collision
Fire destroys printing-ink facility in Binh Duong Province
Deputy PM addresses health sector
The Guide to Sleeping in Airports (www.sleepinginairports.net) ranks Ha Noi's international and domestic airport number fifth out of ten airports, describing it as "hot, chaotic and not especially clean" with travelers constantly frustrated by "the poor signage and limited flight information displayed throughout."
Tan Son Nhat airport in HCM City is ranked eighth, with facilities that are "generally quite average" and "cleanliness levels" that "fluctuate". One traveler is quoted as saying: "The air-conditioning was questionable, the Wi-Fi was beyond bad and there was nowhere to sit."
However, Vietnamese airport authorities objected that the ranking failed to reflect recent improvements made at these two airports.
Facilities and staff behaviour had significantly improved, CAAV head Lai Xuan Thanh told Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper.
In a separate report, the administration admitted that aviation safety needed work, as 210 cases relating to aviation safety were reported in the first nine months, an increase of 60 cases over 2013 and a 39 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. There were also many cases of objects and animals obstructing the runway.
Notably, there were two major errors, one of which was a June 19 VietJet Air flight to Da Lat that somehow ended up at the airport in Cam Ranh.
Read more…
Two injured in train-truck collision
Fire destroys printing-ink facility in Binh Duong Province
Deputy PM addresses health sector
The Guide to Sleeping in Airports (www.sleepinginairports.net) ranks Ha Noi's international and domestic airport number fifth out of ten airports, describing it as "hot, chaotic and not especially clean" with travelers constantly frustrated by "the poor signage and limited flight information displayed throughout."
Facilities and staff behaviour had significantly improved, CAAV head Lai Xuan Thanh said
Tan Son Nhat airport in HCM City is ranked eighth, with facilities that are "generally quite average" and "cleanliness levels" that "fluctuate". One traveler is quoted as saying: "The air-conditioning was questionable, the Wi-Fi was beyond bad and there was nowhere to sit."
However, Vietnamese airport authorities objected that the ranking failed to reflect recent improvements made at these two airports.
Facilities and staff behaviour had significantly improved, CAAV head Lai Xuan Thanh told Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper.
In a separate report, the administration admitted that aviation safety needed work, as 210 cases relating to aviation safety were reported in the first nine months, an increase of 60 cases over 2013 and a 39 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. There were also many cases of objects and animals obstructing the runway.
Notably, there were two major errors, one of which was a June 19 VietJet Air flight to Da Lat that somehow ended up at the airport in Cam Ranh.
Ha Noi women screened for cancer
6:40 PM |More than 51,000 middle-aged women in Ha Noi have now been screened for cancer thanks to a three-year project to combat breast and cervical cancers which comes to an end this year.
Erosion puts dyke network at risk in northern province
Labour export companies live off middlemen
Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 2 more dead
The project, spearheaded by the Ha Noi Committee for the Advancement of Women, involved 180 communes and towns, as well as 20 establishments with high numbers of female employees.
When early stages of cancers, precancerous lesions or symptoms associated with cancers were found in women screened by the project they were then sent to specialised hospitals for further treatment and diagnosis. Breast and cervical cancers have high survival rates of around 80 per cent if patients are treated in the early stages.
"Many women were saved by early detection of the cancers, which also makes their treatment costs much lower," said the municipal Women's Union President, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh.
The project also provided VND500 million (US$24,000) of free medicine and equipped the Ha Noi Oncology Hospital with medical machines worth more than VND1.5 billion (US$72,000).
"This project will provide valuable insight for the upcoming stage of the project, set to take place from 2015 to 2017. The new goal is to screen up to 70,000 women from 35 to 60 years of age in Ha Noi," said the Ha Noi People's Committee Vice President, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc.
Studies at the HCM City Oncology Hospital conducted over the past five years show that breast and cervical cancers are the two most common cancers amongst Vietnamese women, about 15,000 and 5,100 annual diagnoses respectively
Read more…
Erosion puts dyke network at risk in northern province
Labour export companies live off middlemen
Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 2 more dead
The project, spearheaded by the Ha Noi Committee for the Advancement of Women, involved 180 communes and towns, as well as 20 establishments with high numbers of female employees.
When early stages of cancers, precancerous lesions or symptoms associated with cancers were found in women screened by the project they were then sent to specialised hospitals for further treatment and diagnosis. Breast and cervical cancers have high survival rates of around 80 per cent if patients are treated in the early stages.
This project will provide valuable insight for the upcoming stage of the project, set to take place from 2015 to 2017. The new goal is to screen up to 70,000 women from 35 to 60 years of age in Ha Noi.
"Many women were saved by early detection of the cancers, which also makes their treatment costs much lower," said the municipal Women's Union President, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh.
The project also provided VND500 million (US$24,000) of free medicine and equipped the Ha Noi Oncology Hospital with medical machines worth more than VND1.5 billion (US$72,000).
"This project will provide valuable insight for the upcoming stage of the project, set to take place from 2015 to 2017. The new goal is to screen up to 70,000 women from 35 to 60 years of age in Ha Noi," said the Ha Noi People's Committee Vice President, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc.
Studies at the HCM City Oncology Hospital conducted over the past five years show that breast and cervical cancers are the two most common cancers amongst Vietnamese women, about 15,000 and 5,100 annual diagnoses respectively
Kids need better food, mental care
6:38 PM |Nutrition and psychological care are vital for the comprehensive development of children, experts told a seminar in HCM City on Sunday attended by kindergarten teachers.
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city
Nguyen Thi Thu Hau, head of the Paediatric Hospital 2's nutrition department, said children require nutrition to produce energy for their activities and for physical and mental growth and developing the immune system.
A person's height is greatly dependent on nutrition and physical exercise, she said.
"Viet Nam is among the 20 countries with the highest rates of stunted growth because of malnutrition. The average height of a Vietnamese adult is 1.64 metres, much lower than that of Koreans (1.74 metre), Japanese (1.70 metre) and even Thais (1.69 metre)."
For children, school meals play a very important by accounting for more than two-thirds of their daily nutrition, and so pre-school teachers should help children form sound eating and drinking habits, she said.
This enables children to develop life skills like independence, confidence, discipline, lack of fear of new things, and willingness to study and work under pressure, she said.
Milk is indispensable in school meals while the menu should be changed every day, she said.
Teachers should pay attention to other factors in school meals such as safety, eating in combination with exercising, and diseases caused by contaminated food and drink like diarrhoea, respiratory problems, constipation, obesity, and anorexia to discover and treat them effectively and in time, she said.
Viet Nam should learn from Japan about caring for children at schools, she added.
Dr Hoang Vu Quynh Trang of the Paediatric Hospital 1's psychology department said understanding children's psychology is also very important to know their desires and help them develop their strengths.
Pre-school teachers need to have the knowledge and skills to be able to understand children and their problems and to collaborate with parents and schools to help them achieve the best development, she said.
A positive child-care model has three factors — parent (decisive), teacher (supporting), medical personnel (linking) – she said.
Children should be fed various kinds of nutritious food rather than foods with many calories and without forcing them, she said, adding there is a need to create a happy atmosphere.
The seminar, organised by the Ministry of Health's Suc khoe & doi song (Health & Life) newspaper and sponsored by Abbot's PediaSure, was attended by over 200 teachers
Read more…
Viet Nam tourism industry forum kicks off in Seoul
Overstaying VN put S. Korean postings at risk
Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city
Nguyen Thi Thu Hau, head of the Paediatric Hospital 2's nutrition department, said children require nutrition to produce energy for their activities and for physical and mental growth and developing the immune system.
A person's height is greatly dependent on nutrition and physical exercise, she said.
"Viet Nam is among the 20 countries with the highest rates of stunted growth because of malnutrition. The average height of a Vietnamese adult is 1.64 metres, much lower than that of Koreans (1.74 metre), Japanese (1.70 metre) and even Thais (1.69 metre)."
A doctor examines a baby at the Paediatrics Hospital 2 in HCM City. Experts have called for better nutrition and psychological care, saying they are vital for children's development.
For children, school meals play a very important by accounting for more than two-thirds of their daily nutrition, and so pre-school teachers should help children form sound eating and drinking habits, she said.
This enables children to develop life skills like independence, confidence, discipline, lack of fear of new things, and willingness to study and work under pressure, she said.
Milk is indispensable in school meals while the menu should be changed every day, she said.
Teachers should pay attention to other factors in school meals such as safety, eating in combination with exercising, and diseases caused by contaminated food and drink like diarrhoea, respiratory problems, constipation, obesity, and anorexia to discover and treat them effectively and in time, she said.
Viet Nam should learn from Japan about caring for children at schools, she added.
Dr Hoang Vu Quynh Trang of the Paediatric Hospital 1's psychology department said understanding children's psychology is also very important to know their desires and help them develop their strengths.
Pre-school teachers need to have the knowledge and skills to be able to understand children and their problems and to collaborate with parents and schools to help them achieve the best development, she said.
A positive child-care model has three factors — parent (decisive), teacher (supporting), medical personnel (linking) – she said.
Children should be fed various kinds of nutritious food rather than foods with many calories and without forcing them, she said, adding there is a need to create a happy atmosphere.
The seminar, organised by the Ministry of Health's Suc khoe & doi song (Health & Life) newspaper and sponsored by Abbot's PediaSure, was attended by over 200 teachers
Salvage of sunken ship cargo continues
6:35 PM |Southern Can Tho Province authorities continued to salvage cargo from a ship that sank in Can Tho River.
No more cars
Mekong farmers cash in on fragrant rice
Nigerian tests negative for Ebola, discharged from hospital
A cargo ship carrying 70 tonnes of goods, 4 tonnes of sugarcane and 200 boxes of enamelled tiles suddenly exploded on Monday while heading from Cai Rang District to Phong Dien District. The police are still investigating the incident.
Vo Thi Kim Dao, the ship's owner, said her family and employees aboard the ship jumped into the river before the explosion. No deaths were reported.
Cargo worth millions of dong has been lost.
Read more…
No more cars
Mekong farmers cash in on fragrant rice
Nigerian tests negative for Ebola, discharged from hospital
A cargo ship carrying 70 tonnes of goods, 4 tonnes of sugarcane and 200 boxes of enamelled tiles suddenly exploded on Monday while heading from Cai Rang District to Phong Dien District.
A cargo ship carrying 70 tonnes of goods, 4 tonnes of sugarcane and 200 boxes of enamelled tiles suddenly exploded on Monday while heading from Cai Rang District to Phong Dien District. The police are still investigating the incident.
Vo Thi Kim Dao, the ship's owner, said her family and employees aboard the ship jumped into the river before the explosion. No deaths were reported.
Cargo worth millions of dong has been lost.
Cargo ship found carrying weapons
6:34 PM |The southern region's General Department of Viet Nam Customs marine control team found nearly 100 weapons hidden on a cargo ship in the Vung Tau sea.
Revolutionary heroine passes away
Library brings books to poor rural area
Agriculture training must be more practical
They found 94 air guns and a gun stock hidden on the ship's bilge. Crew members failed to produce proper weapon licences.
An initial investigation revealed that the weapons belonged to two crew members. They purchased the weapons abroad and aimed to resell them.
The police asked the ship to anchor at Vung Tau City's port for further questioning.
Read more…
Revolutionary heroine passes away
Library brings books to poor rural area
Agriculture training must be more practical
They found 94 air guns and a gun stock hidden on the ship's bilge. Crew members failed to produce proper weapon licences.
An initial investigation revealed that the weapons belonged to two crew members. They purchased the weapons abroad and aimed to resell them.
The police asked the ship to anchor at Vung Tau City's port for further questioning.
Fertiliser chemicals may have caused explosion: report
6:32 PM |The HCM City police plan to expand the investigation to gather more evidence over the explosion at the District 2-based Dang Huynh fertiliser company that killed three people on Friday.
SAV to focus on IT infrastructure
Timber farmers out of the loop
Farmers to grow alternative crops
The police are planning to take action after receiving the preliminary investigation report from the city fire police, which shows that the explosion might have been unintentionally triggered by workers as the chemical substances that the company uses to make fertilisers are also precursors of explosives.
The company reportedly stored 320kg of potassium nitrate, 25kg of potassium chlorate and some drums containing calcium, sulfur and magnesium solutions at the workshop before the explosion took place.
However, the fire police did not rule out the possibility that there might have explosive-making activities that caused the explosion.
Read more…
SAV to focus on IT infrastructure
Timber farmers out of the loop
Farmers to grow alternative crops
The company reportedly stored 320kg of potassium nitrate, 25kg of potassium chlorate and some drums containing calcium, sulfur and magnesium solutions at the workshop before the explosion took place
The police are planning to take action after receiving the preliminary investigation report from the city fire police, which shows that the explosion might have been unintentionally triggered by workers as the chemical substances that the company uses to make fertilisers are also precursors of explosives.
The company reportedly stored 320kg of potassium nitrate, 25kg of potassium chlorate and some drums containing calcium, sulfur and magnesium solutions at the workshop before the explosion took place.
However, the fire police did not rule out the possibility that there might have explosive-making activities that caused the explosion.
Two die in car crash
6:30 PM |Two people were killed and eight were injured in an accident on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai road of Ea Drang town.
Deputy PM addresses health sector
Delta farmers enjoy biggest catch of the year
Poor infrastructure holding back central provinces: Deputy PM
The accident occurred when a seven-seater vehicle being driven by 26-year-old Luu Thi Thanh Tuyen lost control, crashed into several fruit stalls across the road and collided with a few moving vehicles.
Sixty-five-year-old Pham Thi Len and a three-month-old infant, who were near a fruit stall, were killed in the accident. Tuyen is a resident of Ea Drang. Reports from some media outlets said that she is still learning to drive.
The injured persons were rushed to the Dak Lak General Hospital.
The police are investigating the case
Read more…
Deputy PM addresses health sector
Delta farmers enjoy biggest catch of the year
Poor infrastructure holding back central provinces: Deputy PM
The accident occurred when a seven-seater vehicle being driven by 26-year-old Luu Thi Thanh Tuyen lost control, crashed into several fruit stalls across the road and collided with a few moving vehicles
The accident occurred when a seven-seater vehicle being driven by 26-year-old Luu Thi Thanh Tuyen lost control, crashed into several fruit stalls across the road and collided with a few moving vehicles.
Sixty-five-year-old Pham Thi Len and a three-month-old infant, who were near a fruit stall, were killed in the accident. Tuyen is a resident of Ea Drang. Reports from some media outlets said that she is still learning to drive.
The injured persons were rushed to the Dak Lak General Hospital.
The police are investigating the case
Fire destroys printing-ink facility in Binh Duong Province
12:30 AM |
A fire that broke out at about 4 pm on Thursday destroyed the facilities of a Japanese-invested printing-ink plant in the southern province of Binh Duong. The fire was finally contained at 1:30 am today.
The manufacturer of the products is Sakata Inx Vietnam Ltd, located at 33 Tu Do Street in Thuan An Town, according to the Viet Nam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) authority.
A fire that broke out at about 4 pm on Thursday destroyed the facilities of a Japanese-invested printing-ink plant in the southern province of Binh Duong
Some 20 fire engines were sent to the site. Firefighters were able to prevent the spread of the fire to the fuel section of the plant.
Robert Ng, a representative of Sakata Inx Vietnam Ltd., said the blaze might have started in a storage section containing solvents for ink manufacturing. The area had been exposed to bright sunlight.
 |
He said the solvents could burst into flames at temperatures of 37o - 38 o Celsius.
According to a company representative, hundreds of tonnes of chemicals were being used as solvents for manufacturing printing-ink. He said the damages could be rather high.
Tran Van Nam, deputy chairman of Binh Duong People's Committee, said efforts taken by fire-fighting forces had helped to contain the fire and minimise damages.
Relevant authorities said Sakata Inx Vietnam Ltd. had invested US$14.5 million in the plant, which is located on 2ha in Thuan An Town.
Two injured in train-truck collision
11:50 PM |
Two train drivers were injured when a Ha Noi-bound train, carrying 315 passengers, collided with a container truck in the central province of Nam Dinh early this morning.
The train collided with a container truck in the central province of Nam Dinh early this morning
The truck, being driven by 41-year-old Chu Van Thang from the northern Hai Phong city and carrying 25 tonnes of rice, was crossing a railway line when it was hit by the train.
 |
| The crash derailed the train's head which fell onto the adjacent Highway No 10. |
The crash derailed the train's head which fell onto the adjacent Highway No 10. None of the train passengers were reported to be injured.
The crash is being investigated further.
Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 2 more dead
11:48 PM |Rain from typhoon Kalmaegi caused the deaths of two children in northern mountainous Ha Giang Province on Wednesday, bringing the typhoon's death toll to 11.
No more cars
Mekong farmers cash in on fragrant rice
School closed for torturing autistic students
An eight-month-old baby died on Wednesday when his house collapsed due to torrential rain and whirlwinds in Phieng Bung Village. On the same day, a four-year-old girl in Phuc Thuan Commune was swept away by floods. Local rescue teams found her body after a two-hour search, which was difficult due to the heavy rain.
Due to the storm, 10 people were injured in the provinces of Lang Son, Hai Phong and Nghe An. A 46-year-old woman is still missing after being swept away by floods in Thai Nguyen Province.
The Viet Nam Red Cross Society will support the family of each victim in northern mountainous Lang Son Province with VND3 million (US$141). The Lang Son Red Cross Society previously provided VND2 million ($94) to each family.
The storm blew away the roofs of 790 houses, damaged more than 42,000ha of rice and nearly 9,800ha of crops, inundated 200 ha of aquaculture farms and caused about 3,400 trees to fall in northern provinces, according to the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control. In Ha Giang alone, the initial damage was estimated to be about VND4 billion (US$189,000).
Nguyen Dinh Hop, director of the provincial Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, said that torrential rains triggered by the storm on Tuesday night had raised the water level of the Lo River, causing heavy floods and submerging rice and crops. Torrential rains also inundated houses, schools and streets, disrupting the lives of local residents in Ha Giang City for days.
By 4pm yesterday, the water level of the Lo River was 103.46 metres, 0.46 metres higher than the highest alert level. The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting warned yesterday that water levels in the Lo, Cau and Chay rivers were still rising.
Northern mountainous provinces Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Thai Nguyen have been put on high alert for landslides and flash floods.
Read more…
No more cars
Mekong farmers cash in on fragrant rice
School closed for torturing autistic students
An eight-month-old baby died on Wednesday when his house collapsed due to torrential rain and whirlwinds in Phieng Bung Village. On the same day, a four-year-old girl in Phuc Thuan Commune was swept away by floods. Local rescue teams found her body after a two-hour search, which was difficult due to the heavy rain.
The storm blew away the roofs of 790 houses, damaged more than 42,000ha of rice and nearly 9,800ha of crops,
Due to the storm, 10 people were injured in the provinces of Lang Son, Hai Phong and Nghe An. A 46-year-old woman is still missing after being swept away by floods in Thai Nguyen Province.
The Viet Nam Red Cross Society will support the family of each victim in northern mountainous Lang Son Province with VND3 million (US$141). The Lang Son Red Cross Society previously provided VND2 million ($94) to each family.
The storm blew away the roofs of 790 houses, damaged more than 42,000ha of rice and nearly 9,800ha of crops, inundated 200 ha of aquaculture farms and caused about 3,400 trees to fall in northern provinces, according to the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control. In Ha Giang alone, the initial damage was estimated to be about VND4 billion (US$189,000).
Nguyen Dinh Hop, director of the provincial Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, said that torrential rains triggered by the storm on Tuesday night had raised the water level of the Lo River, causing heavy floods and submerging rice and crops. Torrential rains also inundated houses, schools and streets, disrupting the lives of local residents in Ha Giang City for days.
By 4pm yesterday, the water level of the Lo River was 103.46 metres, 0.46 metres higher than the highest alert level. The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting warned yesterday that water levels in the Lo, Cau and Chay rivers were still rising.
Northern mountainous provinces Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Thai Nguyen have been put on high alert for landslides and flash floods.
Labour export companies live off middlemen
11:46 PM |Labour exporting companies in the central province of Nghe An are having problems competing with individual recruiters, called co in Vietnamese.
Revolutionary heroine passes away
Library brings books to poor rural area
Agriculture training must be more practical
Some companies even have to rely on co, who will play as go-between for the company and labourers, to conduct their business effectively.
Nguyen Truong Giang, director of Nhat Minh International JSC specialising in labour export in the province, said that co helped recruit half the company's labourers.
"We spent a lot of money and effort to go to rural communes to recruit workers but we were only able to recruit one. Meanwhile, a single co was somehow able to send us eight," said Giang.
Other companies, such as the Viet International Labour JSC (Vilaco), set up a network of local recruiters to save costs.
"We don't recruit every month, only when our overseas partners request workers. To maintain a team of recruiters in rural areas is very expensive. That's why we choose to employ co, who are mostly locals," said Vilaco's Director Luu Thi Ngoc Tuy.
Yen Thanh District in the central province of Nghe An has 15 labour export companies, yet their recruiting methods have not proven effective.
Pham Xuan Tuyet, head of Yen Thanh District's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said many companies came but were unable to recruit many workers.
"They just came and announced they wanted to recruit some workers, then left. None of them tried to explain the advantages and benefits of going to work overseas," Tuyet said.
Many labour exporters did not even make the effort to go to rural communes to recruit. Instead, they just stationed one person to answer the phone and set up their recruiting network of co.
Vu Thi Linh, a Yen Thanh social worker who works in employment for the district, said she had not seen any recruiter from labour exporters show up at the local committee in more than ten years.
"We could provide them with a lot of support and information, but they completely bypass and ignore the local committee," she said.
Explaining the practice of employing local recruiters, Le Van Thuy of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said that while many companies were licensed to export labour, it was not really their core business.
"Lacking a long-term strategy and effective recruiting networks, they have no choice but to rely on co," he said.
This has led to many problems. Workers recruited by co rarely receive language and cultural orientations before going to work in other countries; many are unaware of the type of work they will be doing. As a result, they struggle to adapt to the new environment.
Nghe An sends 11,000-12,000 workers overseas annually and currently has 55,000 workers abroad who send home about $US110 million in cash per year.
Read more…
Revolutionary heroine passes away
Library brings books to poor rural area
Agriculture training must be more practical
Some companies even have to rely on co, who will play as go-between for the company and labourers, to conduct their business effectively.
Nguyen Truong Giang, director of Nhat Minh International JSC specialising in labour export in the province, said that co helped recruit half the company's labourers.
Nghe An sends 11,000-12,000 workers overseas annually and currently has 55,000 workers abroad who send home about $US110 million in cash per year
"We spent a lot of money and effort to go to rural communes to recruit workers but we were only able to recruit one. Meanwhile, a single co was somehow able to send us eight," said Giang.
Other companies, such as the Viet International Labour JSC (Vilaco), set up a network of local recruiters to save costs.
"We don't recruit every month, only when our overseas partners request workers. To maintain a team of recruiters in rural areas is very expensive. That's why we choose to employ co, who are mostly locals," said Vilaco's Director Luu Thi Ngoc Tuy.
Yen Thanh District in the central province of Nghe An has 15 labour export companies, yet their recruiting methods have not proven effective.
Pham Xuan Tuyet, head of Yen Thanh District's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said many companies came but were unable to recruit many workers.
"They just came and announced they wanted to recruit some workers, then left. None of them tried to explain the advantages and benefits of going to work overseas," Tuyet said.
Many labour exporters did not even make the effort to go to rural communes to recruit. Instead, they just stationed one person to answer the phone and set up their recruiting network of co.
Vu Thi Linh, a Yen Thanh social worker who works in employment for the district, said she had not seen any recruiter from labour exporters show up at the local committee in more than ten years.
"We could provide them with a lot of support and information, but they completely bypass and ignore the local committee," she said.
Explaining the practice of employing local recruiters, Le Van Thuy of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said that while many companies were licensed to export labour, it was not really their core business.
"Lacking a long-term strategy and effective recruiting networks, they have no choice but to rely on co," he said.
This has led to many problems. Workers recruited by co rarely receive language and cultural orientations before going to work in other countries; many are unaware of the type of work they will be doing. As a result, they struggle to adapt to the new environment.
Nghe An sends 11,000-12,000 workers overseas annually and currently has 55,000 workers abroad who send home about $US110 million in cash per year.
Erosion puts dyke network at risk in northern province
11:45 PM |Serious erosion has affected riverbanks in the northern province of Phu Tho, endangering local dyke systems.
SAV to focus on IT infrastructure
Timber farmers out of the loop
Farmers to grow alternative crops
In Phu Ninh District, erosion of the Tien Du drain gate area was nearing the foot of the Lo dyke.
"Heavy rains last month together with water runoff have eroded the riverbanks in the Tien Du drain gate area," said Tien Du commune People's Committee Deputy President Le Duc The.
He added that apart from the Lo dyke, the road running along the river was also being threatened with erosion getting closer to the road's base.
Another drain gate in the district, Cau Den, could not function at normal capacity due to four sewers collapsing from erosion.
Meanwhile, some 30 metres of the riverbank in the neighbouring district of Thanh Thuy were in need of urgent repairs after being battered during the rain season, said Yen Mao commune People's Committee President Dinh Thanh Hung.
He said that erosion would not only threaten the dike, but also pose a danger to households in the area. It would also endanger the road connecting the district to Hoa Binh province.
"We have reported the situation to the province's leaders but there is not yet any plan to solve this," Hung said.
The two communes have put up signs warning residents to stay away from dangerous areas while awaiting orders from higher authorities.
Some eroded parts of other communes including Tam Nong, Lam Thao and Doan Hung were also on the waiting list of those urgently needing repairs.
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In Phu Ninh District, erosion of the Tien Du drain gate area was nearing the foot of the Lo dyke.
"Heavy rains last month together with water runoff have eroded the riverbanks in the Tien Du drain gate area," said Tien Du commune People's Committee Deputy President Le Duc The.
Some 30 metres of the riverbank in the neighbouring district of Thanh Thuy were in need of urgent repairs after being battered during the rain season.
He added that apart from the Lo dyke, the road running along the river was also being threatened with erosion getting closer to the road's base.
Another drain gate in the district, Cau Den, could not function at normal capacity due to four sewers collapsing from erosion.
Meanwhile, some 30 metres of the riverbank in the neighbouring district of Thanh Thuy were in need of urgent repairs after being battered during the rain season, said Yen Mao commune People's Committee President Dinh Thanh Hung.
He said that erosion would not only threaten the dike, but also pose a danger to households in the area. It would also endanger the road connecting the district to Hoa Binh province.
"We have reported the situation to the province's leaders but there is not yet any plan to solve this," Hung said.
The two communes have put up signs warning residents to stay away from dangerous areas while awaiting orders from higher authorities.
Some eroded parts of other communes including Tam Nong, Lam Thao and Doan Hung were also on the waiting list of those urgently needing repairs.
Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city
11:43 PM |The Prime Minister has recognised Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang province as meeting the criteria of a second-tier city.
Deputy PM addresses health sector
Delta farmers enjoy biggest catch of the year
Poor infrastructure holding back central provinces: Deputy PM
The rating system classifies cities into tiers based on political, economic and demographic factors signifying their current stage of development.
The island's promotion follows progress made in becoming an economic and political hub, a crucial frontier in national defence and security and a crucial transit point for international travellers.
The local government has also made strides in urban planning, consolidating more than 70 per cent of urban housing, constructing a 60.72-kilometre transport network and developing a 67.5-hectare urban area. It is also developing regulations to guide the management of the island's architecture.
Read more…
Deputy PM addresses health sector
Delta farmers enjoy biggest catch of the year
Poor infrastructure holding back central provinces: Deputy PM
The rating system classifies cities into tiers based on political, economic and demographic factors signifying their current stage of development.
Phu Quoc Airporrt
The island's promotion follows progress made in becoming an economic and political hub, a crucial frontier in national defence and security and a crucial transit point for international travellers.
The local government has also made strides in urban planning, consolidating more than 70 per cent of urban housing, constructing a 60.72-kilometre transport network and developing a 67.5-hectare urban area. It is also developing regulations to guide the management of the island's architecture.
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