VIETNAM NEWS DECEMBER 3

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (centre), VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi (second, left), and other delegates mark the launch of the special website on the 13th National Party Congress on December 3

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) launched a special website on December 3 that provides information on the 13th National Party Congress in different forms and languages.

The launch was attended by Party Central Committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and representatives from ministries, sectors, and central agencies, and domestic and foreign media outlets in Hanoi.

The website, at http://daihoidang.vn, provides information, both archival and updated, in the form of text, photos, videos, infographics, and data so that domestic and foreign media agencies and readers can easily gain an insight into all of the National Party Congresses and all-level Party Congresses in history ahead of the 13th National Party Congress.

The archival information includes documents issued at National Party Congresses, biographies of Party General Secretaries since the first congress, full lists of members of the Politburo, the Party Central Committee, and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat in the 12th tenure, along with lists of the standing boards for the 2020-2025 tenure of all Party Organisations in provinces, centrally-run cities, ministries, sectors, and central agencies.

Amid the trend towards data journalism, in recent years the VNA has built a number of portals specialising in major and current events in Vietnam and the world. However, this is the first time a special website combining many forms of journalism has been debuted.

Unlike traditional websites, this one features text and photo information for media agencies, which are also given codes to add widgets to and update information on their sites.

Of note, the website is available in six languages: Vietnamese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese.

Developed in an eight-month period by many VNA units and technology partners, the website has a formal and modern design that is highly interactive on computers, tablets, and smartphones.

The launch is a step towards realising the VNA’s development strategy of combining information with technology and creative ideas.

The VNA will add more updated content and new functions to the website between now and the 13th National Party Congress, scheduled to take place in Hanoi in early 2021, offering domestic and foreign readers comprehensive and objective information on Vietnam’s most important political event next year.

Cambodian PM appreciates Vietnam’s support in struggle for national liberation

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on December 2 highlighted the great assistance of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and international friends in the fight against the Pol Pot genocidal regime, towards the victory on January 7, 1979.

In a post published on his Facebook account on the day, the leader recalled the birth of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation 42 years ago with the aim of overthrowing the genocidal regime.

In response to the front’s call, with the great support of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and international friends, Cambodian people of all strata joined an uprising to defeat the regime and win the glorious victory on January 7, 1979, he noted.

Also on December 2, a delegation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Committee in Preah Sihanouk province visited the Vietnamese Consulate General to pay tribute to Vietnamese people for their contributions and assistance to the neighbouring country.

Vietnamese Consul General Vu Ngoc Ly spoke highly of the role of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodia Motherland, formerly the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, in the cause of national liberation, construction and development.

Regarding the building and upgrading of the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship monument, Ly called for more attention of the two sides to the work, which, he said, is of special significance./.

Grand ceremony in Hanoi celebrates Laos’ 45th National Day

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan addresses the ceremony in Hanoi on December 2

A grand ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 2 to mark Laos’ 45th National Day (December 2) and the 100th birthday of late President Kaysone Phomvihane (December 13).

Those present included Politburo member and National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former President Tran Duc Luong, and former NA Chairman Nguyen Van An, along with many Politburo members and senior officials of Vietnam.

In her address, Ngan congratulated Laos on its enormous and comprehensive achievements over the last 45 years, which have helped it weather every difficulty and challenge, develop sustainably, improve living standards, and promote its stature in the world.

She attributed the Lao Party and people’s accomplishments largely to the major contribution of President Kaysone Phomvihane, “a beloved leader of the Lao Party, State, and people and also a great, close, and faithful friend of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people,” she said.

Together with President Ho Chi Minh and President Souphanouvong, President Kaysone Phomvihane laid a solid foundation for and wholeheartedly nurtured the Vietnam-Laos relationship, turning bilateral ties into a special role model for international relations, according to the top legislator.

She emphasised that the two countries have made unending efforts to strengthen cooperation in all respects, from politics, diplomacy, security and defence, economy, education, and science-technology to culture and people-to-people exchanges, and posted a number of outstanding outcomes.

These have greatly helped safeguard sovereignty and territory, boost socio-economic development, and raise the standing of both countries in the international arena, the NA leader noted, reiterating that “the Party, State, NA, Government, and people of Vietnam treasure and give the highest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.”

Despite the volatile global and regional situation, the faithfulness between the two nations never changes and is always deep in the hearts of the two peoples, she affirmed.

Ngan also thanked Laos for cooperating closely with and supporting Vietnam in fulfilling its role as Chair of ASEAN and Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020.

On behalf of the Lao Party, State, and people, Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang said the Laos-Vietnam great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation are priceless assets shared by both peoples.

He acknowledged the Vietnamese Party, State, and people’s wholehearted assistance to his country during the struggle for national liberation in the past as well as national construction and defence at present.

Since its reform policy began in 1986, Laos has maintained political stability and relatively rapid economic growth. Living standards have increasingly improved, with per-capita income topping 2,700 USD this year. Its external relations have been expanded, while foreign investment in the country has also been on the rise, he noted.

The ambassador again offered his sympathies over the huge losses caused by recent natural disasters in Vietnam’s central and Central Highlands regions. He also thanked the Vietnamese Government for presenting 1,000 tonnes of rice to help Lao people, especially those in Savannakhet province, address the consequences of flooding.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Dong Anh, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Committee at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, pledged that young Vietnamese people will always respect the Vietnam-Laos special relationship and do their utmost to maintain ties forever./.

Gathering in HCM City marks Thailand’s National Day

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) organised a gathering on December 2 to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of Thailand’s National Day and commemorate the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadei (December 5).

President of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association of HCM City Dinh Khac Duy congratulated Thailand on the day and highlighted the sound bilateral relations in the fields of politics, security, defence, economy, and trade.

Over 100,000 Vietnamese-Thai people have played an important role in promoting Vietnam-Thailand ties and made considerable contributions to trans-national economic development, he said.

Twinning relationships have been set up between 26 cities and provinces of the two countries, including HCM City and Bangkok, he said, adding that this has helped promote bilateral cooperation in trade, culture, and education.

Regarding economic relations, Thailand is among the top 10 foreign investors in Vietnam, with total capital of over 12.3 billion USD. It has been Vietnam’s largest trade partner in ASEAN for many years, with two-way trade standing at some 17.5 billion USD in 2019.

Consul General of Thailand in HCM City, Apirat Sugondhabhirom, thanked HUFO for holding such a meaningful event.

Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, both nations continue to enjoy close-knit ties, facilitating trade and investment cooperation and business exchange, he stressed.

The Thai General Consulate stands ready to enhance cooperation with HUFO, the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association, the Liaison Board for Vietnamese in Laos and Thailand, and the Vietnam – ASEAN Friendship Association of HCM City, to bolster the Vietnam – Thailand partnership in a more stable manner, he added.

Seven more COVID-19 cases reported

Vietnam confirmed seven more imported COVID-19 cases from 6pm on December 1 to 6pm on December 2, reported the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

They are under quarantine and treatment in hospitals in Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Can Tho, Hanoi, and Dong Nai.

As of December 2 afternoon, Vietnam had recorded a total of 1,358 infection cases, 693 of them locally transmitted. There were 553 new cases from July 25.

Six patients were given all-clear from the virus the same day, raising the total number of recovered cases to 1,201.

Among the patients under treatment at medical establishments, five tested negative to SARS-CoV-2 once, three twice and 10 thrice. There have been 35 deaths related to the disease so far.

As many as 15,503 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or came from pandemic-hit areas are under quarantine, including 183 in hospitals, 14,472 in other establishments, and 848 at homes.

EU, AFD support climate resilience, recovery in north central Vietnam

A flooded road in Ha Tinh city of central Ha Tinh province in October

The EU and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed several agreements on December 1 to fund a project on improving urban infrastructure to mitigate climate change impact in four coastal provinces in the north central Vietnam.

This project is provided with an EU grant of 5 million EUR (6 million USD) and an AFD loan of 123 million EUR. Another 28 million EUR for project implementation will be sourced from the beneficiary provinces’ budget.

It will be carried out in five small flood-prone cities: Phat Diem in Ninh Binh, Ngoc Lac in Thanh Hoa, Hoang Mai in Nghe An, and Huong Khe and Thach Ha in Ha Tinh.

The project is set to promote safety and security for local people and minimise flood-triggered damage by improving flood prevention infrastructure and developing water drainage and dyke systems.

Roads will also be upgraded to serve the evacuation and rescue of flood-hit people.

Besides, the project is set to organise wastewater collection and treatment activities, improve local authorities’ capacity of ensuring the sustainability of their investments, and boost the localities’ sustainable development.

The central Vietnam has frequently suffered from extreme weather conditions, and back-to-back storms over the last two months have caused huge losses. Amid climate change, such extreme weather conditions may increase in terms of both intensity and frequency, according to the EU and AFD./.

PM: More measures needed to deal with natural disaster consequences

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 2 ordered more efficient measures to overcome consequences caused by natural disasters and help affected residents return to their normal lives.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, PM Phuc said it is a must to improve the capacity of monitoring and responding to natural disasters, adding a detailed landslide map in the central region should be made.

Given the latest COVID-19 infections in Ho Chi Minh City, he stressed the need to stay vigilant and closely control the situation, especially in Hanoi, HCM City and other big cities.

Regarding economic recovery, the PM urged stepping up the export of products to key markets, accelerating the disbursement of official development assistance (ODA), promoting private investment, and further reforming the domestic investment environment so as to optimise opportunities to attract foreign capital.

Greater efforts are needed to speed up the development of the digital economy, the building of the e-Government and cashless payment, the leader requested.

He called for new initiatives to stimulate domestic consumption, increase production output, create more jobs and promote growth in rural areas.

The PM said, thanks to synchronous, drastic measures adopted by the Government last month, the country is expected to grow 2.5 percent, even reaching 3 percent this year.

The consumer price index (CPI) in the January-November period inched up only 3.51 percent as compared with the same period last year, he said, noting that the target of containing the inflation rate at 3.4-3.5 percent in 2020 is feasible.

Highlighting the record trade surplus of 20 billion USD in the 11 months, PM Phuc said the export-import outcomes reflect the effect of free trade agreements signed recently.

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), effective since August 1, has contributed to reviving the country’s exports to Europe, he said, adding that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, which is expected to be put into place in the time ahead, will also bring in many opportunities for exports, investment and tourism.

On this occasion, the leader assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to join hands with the Ministry of Finance in implementing an aid package to support the aviation and tourism sectors which have been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic./.

Over 30 million Vietnamese residents in countrywide not access to safe water

People use water pumped from a well (Photo: SGGP)

According to the report of the Directorate of Water Resources, more than 30 million residents living in rural districts nationwide have not access to safe water. 

The news was released at a conference in the Mekong Delta Province of Soc Trang jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the provincial People’s Committee and the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

The conference was held to review the result of implementation of the National Strategy on the supply of safe water, hygiene and sanitation in countryside.

As of 2020, enhance access to safe water supply and hygienic sanitation across the rural areas of the country, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project in rural areas has mobilized VND106,733 billion (US$ 7.6 billion), accounting for 66 percent of the set goal.

Some 6.5 million households have asked loans to construct piped water supply while 6.2 million homes spent loans on building toilets, farms and brick- dome shaped domestic bio-digesters.

Around 88.5 percent of residents in countryside have accessed to safe water including 51 percent having used Vietnamese standard water and 75.2 percent of locals in rural district have toilets.

owever, people in mountainous areas in the North , North Central and Central Highlands regions lack access to safe water sources.

Worse, the supply of fresh water is facing challenges such as climate changes, natural disasters, drought, salinity invasion, flood which can pollute drinking water supplies.

The Directorate of Water Resources said that it will submit a proposal on a decree of safe water to the government as well as submit its national strategy on safe water supply and environment sanitation in rural areas to 2030 with the vision to 2045.

Moreover, the Directorate will petition the continuance of credit program for safe water and environment sanitation and expansion of the program to more recipients.

HCM City to expand COVID-19 testing ahead of Lunar New Year holiday

Ho Chi Minh Minh City authorities are set to expand COVID-19 testing for passengers on repatriation flights, patients in hospitals who are suffering from serious illnesses, in addition to workers and experts in industrial and processing zones, in the build up to the Lunar New Year holiday, known locally as Tet.

Information regarding the increase in testing was confirmed by Nguyen Tan Binh, director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health, during a press conference held on December 1.

Binh stated that following the community recording two cases of COVID-19 through Patient No. 1,342, the risk of COVID-19 spreading on repatriation flights remains extremely high.

The local administration has therefore decided to expand testing as part of a range of suitable measures aimed at ramping up COVID-19 prevention and control measures ahead of the Lunar New Year.

Furthermore, the press conference saw Nguyen Tri Dung, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, note that security around quarantine areas will be tightened after patient No. 1,342 violated several regulations regarding COVID-19 prevention measures.

This will see flight attendants who work on repatriation flights required to remain in isolation for a period of 14 days, whilst they must test negative for COVID-19 at least twice before being permitted to leave.

The male flight attendant who was confirmed as patient No. 1,342 violated disease prevention regulations while supposedly in quarantine at home, therefore spreading the virus to another man, patient No.1347.

Vietnam posts key achievements in HIV/AIDS prevention

A total 213,097, or 85 percent of all people in Vietnam infected with HIV, were aware of their status as of September, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Vietnam is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to commit to realising the 90-90-90 target set by the UN.

According to the MoH’s Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, realising the 90-90-90 target is extremely important in preventing HIV/AIDS and eliminating it by 2030.

At present, nearly 151,000 HIV-infected people aware of their status have undergone antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, accounting for 75 percent, while 96 percent of ARV-treated patients have had the virus suppressed.

The country is making every effort to have 95 percent of HIV carriers aware of their status, 95 percent of whom are to access sustained ARV therapy and 95 percent of such patients are to have the virus suppressed.

The targets are key to efforts to erase AIDS in Vietnam by 2030, in accordance with the National Strategy on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control to 2030.

Since 2018, Vietnam has worked tirelessly to promote Undetectable=Untransmittable, or U=U (K=K in Vietnamese) – a campaign that encourages people living with HIV to undergo continual ARV treatment to have their viral load suppressed and stop the virus from being passed on.

Reports from the MoH show that Vietnam has contained the prevalence of HIV among the general population to below 0.3 percent, as targeted in the National Strategy on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control to 2020 with a Vision to 2030.

In the national strategy for ending AIDS by 2030, Vietnam targets bringing the number of newly-detected infections to under 1,000 a year, while fatalities linked to HIV/AIDS are to be less than one per 100,000 people./.

Photo exhibition celebrates Lao National Day

The traditional Lao Lunar New Year celebration is held in April.

Photos focusing on the friendly relations between Việt Nam and Laos have been put on display in Hà Nội. 

The exhibition by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Lao Embassy in Việt Nam is running from December 1 to 5 at the Hồ Chí Minh Museum. 

The first part introduces the historical and up-to-date images on the relationship between the two countries in the struggle for national liberation in the past and process of national renewal and construction today.

Through the photos displayed in this part, exhibition goers will see the determination of the two parties, two states and peoples to foster the relationship between the two countries.

One of the photos in this part featuring Vietnamese martyr Lê Thiệu Huy and his comrades shows that the sacrifice of Vietnamese in helping Laos gain independence and freedom must not be forgotten.

Martyr Huy sacrificed himself as the shield to protect President Souphanouvong in the Tha Khet battle on March 21, 1946. 

Another image shows the solidarity of the two people featuring Vietnamese soldiers and Lao people crushing rice grains for the Thượng Lào campaign in 1953.

The second part will showcase photos of late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane from his early patriotic activities and his contribution to his country’s unification and development. 

“The exhibition is a meaningful activity to remind people of the two countries to boost the traditional relationship between Việt Nam and Lao,” said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tạ Quang Đôngat the exhibition opening ceremony. 

“Việt Nam is proud to have a loyal friend like Laos. This exhibition is a chance to review the close relations between the two countries and towards sustainable co-operation in future.”

The event helps the public understand more about historic turning points and typical events in the relationship between the two countries and the great achievements that the people of the two countries of Lao and Việt Nam have made over the past decades, contributing to nurture, strengthen and tightening the solidarity between the two countries.  

“We thank Ministry of Culture for organising the exhibition,” said Sengphet Houngboungnuang, Lao Ambassador to Việt Nam. 

“It expresses the Vietnamese people’s warm heart and feelings to their friends. The exhibition will be a chance for young generations to get to know more about the traditional friendship and love between the two peoples.”

“We will never forget the support from Vietnamese Party, Government and people,” he said. “Now we are still going forward side by side in the development process together with other countries in the region and the world.”

The exhibition also displays photos featuring beautiful landscapes and cultural values from the Land of a Million Elephants.

The exhibition aims to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Lao National Day and the 100th birthday of the late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane. 

It runs until December 5 at 19 Ngọc Hà Street. 

Nearly 360 Vietnamese citizens flown home from US

Close to 360 Vietnamese citizens were brought home from the United States on a Vietnam Airlines flight as part of collective efforts by competent authorities of both sides from November 30 – December 1.

On board the flight were children under 18, the elderly, people with illnesses, students who finished their study but without accommodation due to dormitory closures, and those in extremely difficult circumstances.

Vietnamese missions in the US provided help to facilitate the passengers’ travel to pickup points at international airports in Houston and New York and instructed them to complete pre-departure procedures before boarding the flight.

In-flight safety and preventive measures have been rigorously enforced by the national flag carrier to protect the passengers’ health and prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Upon arrival at Da Nang International Airport in central Vietnam, all passengers and crew members were given medical checkups and sent to quarantine in line with regulations.

The repatriation of Vietnamese citizens in disadvantaged circumstances abroad will continue to be conducted in line with their wishes, the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, and domestic quarantine capacity./.

Bac Giang province gears towards digital government

Bac Giang province will continue carrying out the e-government building programme in a comprehensive, timely and effective manner with a view to set up a digital government in the near future, according to Director of the provincial Department of Information and Communications Tran Minh Chieu.

The localities has implemented the Government’s e-Government building policies, as well as designed and carried out programmes and plans on smart urban area development, while ensuring information safety for e-Government building work.

Along with taking advantage of the available information system, the province has mobilised on-the-spot resources to ensure its readiness for implementing all administrative procedures online at level 3 and level 4. To that goal, it will build a roadmap for upgrading information systems to handle all dossiers online. It will connect the public service portals and one-door information systems at provincial and ministerial levels with other information systems like online payment and electronic identification and authentication.

Due attention will also be paid to promoting the application of information technology so as to improve management efficiency, including document management software, online conferencing and reporting system, while working to complete the provincial e-Government architecture, the Local Government Service Platform (LGSP), and the Security Operation Centre (SOC).

Local authority has underlined the responsibility of those holding top positions in Party Committees, agencies and organisations for realizing targets on IT application to promote administrative reform as well as create the foundation for e-Government building. Besides, the province has sharpened focus on raising public awareness of the Party and State’s policies and strategies on IT application, and e-Government building.

In the past time, the province has invested heavily in e-Government infrastructure. Currently, it houses 1,417 base transceiver stations (BTSs), with 3G and 4G services covering the whole province. Meanwhile, the data integration centres were established at the provincial Department of Information and Communications and the provincial Party Committee, which are responsible for ensuring information safety and security, and providing data for competent sectors. Furthermore, the centres are connected via a wide area network (WAN) with 22 departments and agencies, all 10 districts and towns, and all communes. An online conference system has now reached all communes with 267 points of access.

A document management software system has been used in all Party and State agencies at four levels, meeting standard and technical requirements. The system integrates measures to ensure information safety as well as digital signatures. Meanwhile, the public mail system granted more than 15,000 accounts for all staff members of local Party and State agencies from provincial to communal levels.

A one-door information portal was standardised from the provincial to communal levels. The provincial public service portal now provides 176 public administrative services at levels 3 & 4. The portal is also connected with the national counterpart, with 1,591 out of 2003 administrative procedures synchronized with the national portal, and 17,546 dossiers’ status synchronsied with those on the national public service portal.

Additionally, the province has promoted IT application in various sectors like education, healthcare, agriculture and transportation towards shaping a foundation for a digital society in the coming time. It installed camera system to supervise traffic and security on main routes in the locality, and carried out various hi-tech agricultural production models applying VietGAP standard./.

Can Tho, Australia enhance partnership in education, infrastructure

Authorities of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and a delegation led by Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie have expressed wish to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, transport infrastructure and climate change adaptation.

During a working session on December 1, Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee Tran Viet Truong said since 1993, Can Tho and Australia have signed a number of important memoranda of understanding on intellectual property, mining and farm produce.

On this basis, Can Tho hopes the Australian Ambassador will help expand the partnership between the city and Australia to other fields, Truong said. He suggested the two sides can exchange experts, provide scholarships, build bridges, roads and dykes in response to high tides and erosion caused by climate change.

Ambassador Mudie expressed her delight at witnessing economic achievements of the Mekong Delta and Can Tho in particular, which she said, have been partly attributable to Australian-funded projects such as My Thuan and Cao Lanh bridges.

Moreover, Australia is embarking on a 300 million USD project on climate change adaptation for the Mekong Delta, specifically on water resources management.

She also took the occasion to vow to further boost Australia – Vietnam collaboration.

In the first nine months of this year, Can Tho’s exports to Australia reached 13.6 million USD, mostly rice, processed farm produce, aquatic products and apparel./.

Photo exhibition celebrates Lao National Day

Photos focusing on friendship between Vietnam and Laos are being on display in Hanoi on the occasion of 45th National Day of Laos and 100th birthday of late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane.

The exhibition by held the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with Lao Embassy in Vietnam is running from December 1 to 5 at the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

The first part introduces the historical and up-to-date images on the relationship between the two countries in the struggle for national liberation in the past and process of national renewal and construction today.

Through the photos displayed in this part, exhibition goers will see the determination of the two parties, two states and peoples to foster the relationship between the two countries.

The second part showcases photos of late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane from his early patriotic activities and his contribution to his country’s unification and development.

The event helps the public understand more about historic turning points and typical events in the relationship between the two countries and the great achievements that the people of the two countries of Lao and Vietnam have made over the past decades, contributing to nurture, strengthen and tightening the solidarity between the two countries.

The exhibition also displays photos featuring beautiful landscapes and cultural values from the Land of a Million Elephants./.

Health stations in wards, communes use software for patient records

The Ministry of Health has instructed the HCM City Department of Health to use software for information management at health stations in wards and communes.

Hà Anh Đức, chief of the Ministry of Health’s secretariat, said that health stations in wards and communes should complete its data connections with the ministry’s information management platform.  

At a meeting with the ministry on November 26, Tăng Chí Thượng, deputy head of the city Department of Health, said that in the past a health station had nearly 80 notebooks to record its activities, which led to inefficient use of time by its medical staff.

Health stations in the city, however, have been applying IT to manage data, but each piece of software can only manage one kind of content. The use of multiple kinds of software has had many shortcomings.

Since 2019, under the ministry’s instruction, the department has piloted the use of software from the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group at 110 health stations in the city.

The health station in Tân Bình District’s Ward 15, for example, now manages more than 300 electronic health records of people in the ward.

Dr Châu Quang Khải, head of the station, said the centre’s operation has become more efficient and convenient since it began using only one software programme.

The station’s staff can more easily find information about patients, and reports about patients are done more rapidly and are now more complete and precise.

The city aims to expand the application of this software to all 319 health stations by 2021, Thượng said.

The city’s goal is to have electronic health records for 90 per cent of its population by 2025. Health stations will manage these records.

According to Thượng, the connection between health stations’ software and the ministry’s platform has been very good.

According to Đức the country has 11,500 health stations in communes, wards, and towns. Of these, 7,300 use the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group’s software and 3,300 others use Viettel’s software. Nearly 1,000 use software from other telecom providers.

This software has to be connected to the ministry’s platform.

Hanoi to host fair featuring specialties of mountainous localities

A fair featuring specialties from mountainous localities will be a highlight of activities taking place at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi in December to commemorate the new year of 2021, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced on December 1.

Traditional markets of ethnic groups in mountainous areas will be replicated and feature folk songs, games, and cuisine.

The “Khen” (pan-pipe) dance of the Mong people – a national intangible cultural heritage – will be performed.

A space will be arranged for promoting tourism in localities and for exhibiting paintings featuring landscape and people in mountainous localities.

A host of traditional festivals will be re-enacted at the fair, such as the Cam Muong Festival of the Lu ethnic group in northern mountainous Lai Chau province that prays for a prosperous and peaceful life, and “Tet Khu su cha”, which signals the end of the harvest for the Ha Nhi group in neighbouring Dien Bien province, among others./.

Vietnam, Japan reinforce cooperation in military medicine

Vietnam and Japan sought ways to step up cooperation in military medicine in the time ahead during an online working session on November 30.

The session saw the participation of representatives from the Department of Military Medicine at the General Department of Logistics, Military Hospital 108, and the Vietnam Military Medical University, as well as the Japanese military attache and vice military attache in Vietnam.

Major General Nguyen Xuan Kien, head of the Department of Military Medicine, spoke highly of the success posted by Japan and its army in particular in the fight against COVID-19.

The meeting offered an opportunity for the two sides to accelerate the signing of a memorandum of understanding in military medicine between the two foreign ministries, he said.

Officers looked at the pandemic situation in military units in their respective countries, and shared their experience in this regard.

They agreed to organise more visits and meetings, both online and in-person, in an effort to enhance cooperation and significantly contribute to defence ties between Vietnam and Japan./.

NA Chairwoman visits Military Zone 4

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on December 1 urged Military Zone 4 to make greater efforts, optimise the opportunities, and overcome the difficulties in order to complete the targets of national construction and defence in the new circumstances.

During her visit to Military Zone 4, the top legislator said it should work harder to improve forecasting work, especially in sea, island, and border areas, emphasising the need to devise plans to guarantee the safety and security of the 13th National Party Congress and the general election slated for May 23.

She ordered the enhancing of the protection of internal politics and the Party’s ideological foundation, to effectively combat plots by hostile forces and improve the quality and efficiency of mass mobilisation work.

Military Zone 4 also needs to play a more active role in social welfare, poverty reduction, national disaster response, and search and rescue operations, the leader said.

Regarding defence diplomacy, Ngan asked the unit to join hands with local Party Committees and authorities to maintain and reinforce the friendship and special solidarity with the Lao army and people, contributing to building a common border of peace, friendship, stability, and development.

She highlighted Party building and personnel training, saying that officers and soldiers should be fully aware of the task of safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and interests.

Notably, in the face of COVID-19, Military Zone 4 must work to ensure safety within itself, as well as the people’s safety, as the armed forces play a key role in the fight against the pandemic.

Over past years, Military Zone 4 has provided consultations to local Party Committees and authorities, remained vigilant, and proven its core role in natural disaster response, the COVID-19 fight, and search and rescue operations, according to the NA leader.

The unit has closely coordinated with localities to receive tens of thousands of people who have returned home due to the pandemic and conducted quarantine at military bases, she said.

In responding to this year’s storms and flooding in the central region, 35 officers and soldiers sacrificed their lives, Ngan said, praising their sense of responsibility, will, and political mettle.

Earlier the same day, Ngan and her entourage visited and presented relief aid to two families hit hard by rains and floods in Hung Dao commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province, and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at a site dedicated to the late leader in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district./.

HCM City leaders offer greetings on Laos’ 45th National Day

A delegation led by Standing Vice Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang visited Laos’ Consulate General to offer greetings on the occasion of the country’s 45th National Day (December 2, 1975 – 2020).

Quang congratulated the Lao Party, Government, and people on their achievements recorded over the years. Of particular note, Laos has been successful in bringing COVID-19 under control and minimising the adverse impact of the pandemic on its socio-economic development.

The official said that despite the tough times, the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship has been upheld and bolstered by leaders and peoples of both countries.

This year, though COVID-19 has dealt a blow to the implementation of cooperation activities, especially visits by high-ranking officials, the countries have agreed to foster bilateral ties.

HCM City will continue to maintain and strengthen the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship and special solidarity, benefitting the peoples of the two countries and peace, cooperation, and progress in the region and the world, he pledged.

For his part, Deputy Consul General Vanxay Xaysena affirmed that, over the past 45 years, the special friendship between the two nations has been tightened, adding that support from the Party, Government, and people of Vietnam has greatly contributed to Laos’ accomplishments over the recent past.

Speaking highly of HCM City’s role in enhancing Laos-Vietnam relations, he voiced a hope that the southern hub would further support Lao localities in various endeavours, such as scientific and technological research.

He also vowed to stand side-by-side with the city in bolstering the special friendship for the sake of future generations./.

Athletes to compete at Hà Nội Open Table Tennis

Athletes compete at last year Hà Nội Open Table Tennis tournament. Photo hanoimoi.com.vn

The annual Hà Nội Open Table Tennis tournament promises competitive matches in its eighth edition on December 3-6.

The event, known as the Hà Nội Mới Newspaper Cup, will feature more than 300 athletes, many more than the previous year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the organisers.

“The deadly pandemic has forced many tournaments to be postponed and cancelled through the year. Currently, the situation seems to be well controlled, so we decided to choose this time for the event,” said Nguyễn Hoàng Long, editor-in-chief of the newspaper and head of the organisers.

“As it is one of the rare tournaments held this year, the cup receives attention and registration from athletes from 62 teams nationwide,” he said.

Athletes will compete in 11 categories based on ages and genders in professional and amateur disciplines.

“This year we will see the participation of famed players such as Phan Huy Hoàng, winner of the 2020 National Table Tennis Team Championship’s men’s singles, Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, gold medalist of the 2020 National Table Tennis Team Championship’s men’s team, Mai Thanh Thúy and Vũ Thị Thúy, winning duo of the 2020 National Table Tennis Clubs Championship,” said Long.

The tournament is free for supporters at Trịnh Hoài Đức Gymnasium but people are asked to follow instructions to avoid COVID-19 transmission.

Organisers will also carry out sterilisation of the facilities each day after matches. 

Lao students quarantined in Vietnam for study

Authorities of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue have quarantined 51 students from Laos who came to study in the province.

The students entered Vietnam through Lao Bao Border Gate in the central province of Quang Tri on November 30. 

They had to fill in their health report and had their luggage sterilised. They were provided with temperature checks and were taken to a local quarantine site for Covid-19 prevention.

After finishing the 14-day quarantine, they will be medically-monitored for the next 14 days at dormitories at Thua Thien-Hue College of Education before studying Vietnamese for a year at the college.

As soon as ending the study at Thua Thien-Hue College of Education, they will be sent to other local colleges.

Earlier, the province and seven localities in Laos signed an agreement to train Lao students.

Vietnam Fine Arts Exhibition 2020 opens

The Vietnam Fine Arts Exhibition 2020 opened at the Vietnam Culture and Arts Exhibition Centre, in Hanoi, on December 1.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong emphasised that this is a nationwide exhibition, aiming to summarise and evaluate the process of creative activities. The exhibition is an opportunity to announce outstanding artworks of the Vietnamese art world over the past five years (2016-2020) and recognise the compositional achievements of Vietnamese artists and sculptors in the career of construction and development of an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity.

This is also an opportunity for a large number of art lovers to approach and enjoy new art works, rich in content and diverse in forms, contributing to the development of the Vietnamese art market, helping the organisations and individuals accessing works with high artistic value.

In the six months since the event’s launch, the organising board received 3,571 works of 1,382 authors from 58 provinces and cities. The arts council selected 497 works by 483 authors to showcase at the exhibition.

The works manifest labour activities, the national building and safeguarding cause, and issues of the contemporary life in various forms such as painting, graphics, sculpture, installation art, and performing arts.

Notably, this year, the exhibition has expanded its audience; in addition to domestic artists, it has also seen the participation of Vietnamese artists living and working abroad.

The exhibition is taking place until December 10.

On this occasion, the organising board presented 29 excellent works, including six second prizes, 11 third prizes and 12 consolation prizes.

After the event concludes in Hanoi, the exhibition will be on display at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum from December 22 to 29.

Film week celebrates 76th anniversary of Vietnamese People’s Army

Poster from the movie ‘Truyen Thuyet Ve Quan Tien’ (Legend of Quan Tien)

Three scientific films will also be introduced to Vietnamese audiences on the occasion, namely ‘Chung Toi La Linh Sinh Vien’ (We are students-soldiers), ‘Lu Mien Nui’ (Floods in mountainous region), and ‘Truong Son Noi Ay Khac Ghi’ (Truong Son where memories are remembered).

The event is being organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Cinematography Department in coordination with film studios; centres for film distribution, cinematography, culture and arts in centrally-run cities and provinces.

It will be held in localities where the COVID-19 pandemic is under control and in line with all disease prevention and control regulations as issued by the Ministry of Health.

International visitors to Vietnam increased slightly in November

The number of international visitors to Vietnam reached17,7000 in November, up 19.6% over the last month but down 99% over the same period last year due to the implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

The information was officially announced by the General Statistics Office on November 29.

The international visitors to Vietnam in November included foreign experts and technical workers working on projects in Vietnam and drivers transporting goods at border gates.

Visitors were mainly from China, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Laos, accounting for 75.3% of tourists this month.

Generally, in the 11 months of 2020, Vietnam welcomed 3.8 million, a year-on-year decrease of 76.6%.

Of the total amount of people travel, those going by air reached nearly 3.1 million (down 80.4%), while arrivals by sea were 144,600 (down 37.8%) and by road reached 602,600 (down 80.3%).

Arrivals from Asia were estimated at 2,799,000 accounting for 73.3% of total international tourists to the country and down 78.4% over the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the number of European visitors in the 11 months was 670,700, a year-on-year decline of 66.2%.

The total revenue from tourism is estimated at VND16.6 trillion, down 58.6% from the same period last year.

Vietnam’s tourism sector is making efforts to boost stimulation measures to recover, especially during the last months of the year.

HCMC to invest in to-be Thu Duc City’s infrastructure

Residents of District 2 voiced their concern over planning tasks and premise clearance. Nguyen Xuan Thong from Binh Truong Dong Ward pressed that after the clearance, he and his neighbors were promised a lot in Truong Thinh Project. However, these lots are not permitted house construction, which means those citizens have had to rent house year after year and endured accommodation as well as education instability.

Other people in District 2 presented their opinion about existing problems related to Thu Thiem New Urban Area. They hoped these issues can be solved before the new Thu Duc City is formed.

Former Chairwoman of HCMC People’s Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam assured that these opinions were all collected and sent to respective state agencies.

Regarding the matters in Thu Thiem New Urban Area, she informed that the Government Inspectorate has issued conclusions of an inspection into the new urban area. HCMC People’s Council has already introduced a suitable resolution, along with the detailed direction from the municipal authorities. The tardiness in application is because of many reasons inlcuding the disagreement between citizens and the city’s management. Therefore, she suggested holding more discussions to reach a consensus as soon as possible.

Residents of Thu Duc District reported the lateness in issuing land use right certificates, serious urban flooding, inappropriate new textbooks for first graders, the establishment of Thu Duc City, and insufficient investment in traffic facilities in HCMC.

Head of HCMC Party Committee’s Board for Propaganda and Education Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue shared that in the latest National Assembly meeting, many HCMC delegates proposed that related ministries and state agencies submit a detailed report about traffic infrastructure development in the Southeast Region of Vietnam, including HCMC, to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has requested that relevant ministries and agencies should facilitate construction projects for expressway and major routes in the Mekong Delta and the Southeast in order to finish these projects as soon as possible.

Deputy Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue also voiced his agreement with the idea to boost the growth of the to-be Thu Duc City via more investment in traffic and technical infrastructure.

Only authorized personnel allowed in quarantine areas: Ministry

The Ministry of Health in Vietnam yesterday ordered that only authorized persons are allowed to enter quarantined facilities where people with coronavirus are being isolated. 

In its yesterday urgent dispatch to ministries of Defense, Public Security, Transport and people’s committees in cities and provinces, The Ministry of Health asked to increase supervision on imported cases.

The Ministry requested to monitor the quarantine areas, home quarantine and other places as well as people in isolation wards to abide by the present regulations of Covid-19 prevention including washing hand and wearing facemasks.

After three months without a new coronavirus infection in Vietnam, the Southeast Asian country has recorded a community infection in Ho Chi Minh City who is a friend of a flight attendant from Vietnam Airlines who tested positive on November 29. They came into contact when the latter was under quarantine at his rented house.

After the flight attendant was positive for the coronavirus, health authorities soon tested those who had close contact with him and the male friend’s test result came out positive, too.

The new patient, the 1347th, is a 32-year-old man from Ward 3, District 6 who is a teacher at an English language center. He is currently in quarantine.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have conducted Covid-19 tests on 154 people and quarantined 38 others who had contact with the English teacher as well as sealing off the locations where the patient had recently been to including schools, coffee shop and karaoke bar.

In its dispatch, the Ministry clearly pointed out the Southeast Asian country is was now at risk of infection as the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus is complicated; therefore, the Ministry proposed ministries not to neglect their prevention mission. Leaders of agencies and ministries will be held accountable if there is an infection case.

Additionally, close monitor in border lines and imported cases in airports is needed. Illegal arrivals should receive harsh penalties as per the present regulations and they must be kept under quarantine.

Mekong Delta needs more incentives to attract public participation in education

Children in a private school in Soc Trang City.

Thanks to the collaboration of the public, the education status in the Mekong Delta lately has witnessed significant improvements. Can Tho City now has around 562 educational institutes of all levels to accommodate nearly 376,000 learners. 110 of them are private-based, accounting for 19.61 percent – the highest in the region.

A similar situation is happening in other provincial cities in the area. In Soc Trang City, 13 kindergartens, 3 centers, and 17 small-scaled childcare groups are private to take care of 62.8 percent of the children in the city this year.

According to Chairman of Soc Trang City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Quan shared that the city has always welcomed private investments in education, especially in the kindergarten level, in order to ease the burden of the public sector.

Despite being considered the ‘educational low’ of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta still receives just a humble budget for education, not to mention a serious lack of schools compared to other areas in the country.

Statistics from the Educational Facilities, Equipment and Children’s Toy Department (under the Ministry of Education and Training) reveal that the Mekong Delta region needs to build 3,300 new classrooms, to concrete 8,550 classrooms, and to equip schools with about 2,200 learning kits.

Obviously, these tasks require much capital, resulting in the need to mobilize community aid. Therefore, the Government introduced Resolution No.35 on June 4, 2019 on increasing the mobilization of social resources for investment in education and training development for the 2019-2025 period.

The specific goal of this Resolution is to boost the growth of private-based educational institutes to reach 13.5 percent of the total, with 16 percent of learners studying here in 2025.

As shared by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thong – CEO of Pacific Education System (located in Can Tho City), there is a high demand in the Mekong Delta region to have a high-quality educational system. However, since investors still cannot find sufficient attraction here, they are not eager to pour their money in. This comes from a lack of encouraging policies on land use, credit, construction support.

Mr. Phong believed that with appropriate and transparent policies, the region is able to attract much more capital from large investors.

Since the legal corridor for educational investment is still under development, most investors complain that they have experienced difficulties in accessing the preferential land resource for education and the special credit capital for educational growth.

What investors need at the moment is better or even special investment policies for education in the Mekong Delta. These policies have to be transparent, detailed, and easy to follow so that there would be no trouble implementing them. Only then can there be a stronger promotion for the whole community to participate in developing the current education system.

Fiftieth UPU about experience of the Covid-19 pandemic launched

The international letter-writing competition for young people themed “Write a letter to a family member about your experience of the Covid – 19 pandemic” was launched yesterday in Hanoi. 

The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Literature Association and the Vietnam Post Office jointly launched the competition in Thang Long School in Hanoi.

At the launching ceremony of the 50th UPU competition, the organizer gave the third prize of the 49th competition to 7-grader Phan Hoang Phuong Nhi from Duy Tan Junior High School in the Central Province of Thua Thien – Hue. The seven grader won the first prize of the national competition and the third prize of the international competition.

The seven grader’s letter conveyed a touching message about the environment and why people should reduce their use of plastic bags and foam food containers to protect the environment and human health. She wrote about an old woman who sells sticky rice for the 49th competition themed “Write a message to an adult about the world we live in”.

Her story is that at first the street vendor sold sticky rice in plastic bags which threaten to human health; therefore, she decided to use banana leaves to cover sticky rice. However, it is inconvenient for buyers; hence, she lost her regular customers. Eventually, more customers return to buy sticky rice of the street vendor as she puts a message for environment protection.

All students under 15 years old are eligible to submit entry for the 50th UPU no later than February 28, 2021. Accepted entry is no more than 800 word handwriting letter written in one side paper. Entries should be sent to Thieu Nien Tien Phong newspaper headquarter at 5 Hoa Ma Street in Hai Ba Trung District in Hanoi.

HCMC education authority orders to increase prevention of Covid-19

The Department of Education and Training today in its document to school leaders asked to increase prevention of Covid-19 after two locally-transmitted cases have been confirmed in the city in the past two days.

Under the order, schools must actively get detailed information of managers, teaching staffs, students and students’ families precisely including those who have had close contact with infected cases.

Additionally, schools must strictly follow preventative measures against Covid-19 as per instruction of the Department of Education and Training and the Ministry of Health. Schools must provide soaps, clean water for students to wash their hand as well as ask students to wear facemasks.

The Department of Education and Training required schools to keep in touch with the local steering board for Covid-19 prevention and control to receive updates of the coronavirus development and guidelines.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR