Centre addresses problem of unexploded bombs and mines Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to establish the Viet Nam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) to deal with unexploded bombs and mines. The centre, managed by the Ministry of National Defence, will work with agencies on research and policies to reduce the harm that can be caused by unexploded ordnance. It will act as the main agency for mobilising international support for dealing with bombs and mines left over from wars. The centre will be in charge of co-ordinating projects on bomb and mine clearance and supporting bomb and mine victims. An estimated 15 million tonnes of bombs, mines and explosives were used during the American War in Viet Nam. At the current pace of detecting and defusing unexploded ordinance, it is estimated that it will take Viet Nam about 300 years to completely clear all threats. On Wednesday, a team from Mines Advisory Group detonated 25 mortar and artillery shells in Dong Ha city in Quang Tri … [Read more...]

Five persons are critical after mushroom poisoning Five persons from Thai Nguyen Province are being treated at Bach Mai General Hospital for mushroom poisoning and are in critical condition, the hospital said yesterday. According to Pham Due, director of the Poison Control Center of Bach Mai, the patients, all belonging to one family, have suffered serious damage to their liver and digestive systems and have shown symptoms of vomiting, nausea and a drop in the blood pressure. The family reportedly collected one kilogramme of mushrooms from the forest. It was unclear what kind of mushroom it was, but it apparently had a sweet taste. Nguyen Thanh Phong, deputy head of the Vietnam Food Administration, warned that residents should be extremely careful in picking mushrooms, especially in spring, and should not eat them unless they can check the mushroom's origin and type. Dog fighting rings sprout up in Vietnam Several Vietnamese have recently become interested in raising fighting … [Read more...]

Forest fire in Ca Mau at alarming level There is an imminent risk that the entire U Minh Ha indigo forest may erupt in flames, said southernmost Ca Mau province’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department Director Le Van Su. About 12,000 ha of the indigo forest are facing severe drought, raising the  level of alert  to 4 for forest fires. Nearly 3,000ha of nearby national forests are also suffering from a similar situation, Su reported. More than 500ha forest in Hon Khoai Island in Ca Mau is likely to catch fire soon if the prolonged drought is not eased. Once a fire forest breaks out,, the whole forest area of nearly 3,000 primary forest area could be destroyed as Hon Khoai Island is located about 35km from the mainland, Su concluded. Local authorities are closely coordinating with border guards and relevant agencies to intensify fire preventative measures on Hon Khoai Island. Rescue forces are also mobilising to cope with forest fires, should they occur, while … [Read more...]

Gas pipeline incident affects Ca Mau power plants The PM3-CM gas pipeline system, which feeds t wo gas-fired power plants in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, has stopped working due to a valve gas leakage. According to the Ca Mau Gas Company of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the incident occurred at 3:25 pm on March 15, resulting in a supply interruption for the two power plants which have a combined capacity of 1,500 MW. The company said it would take about three days before the system can resume operation. To make up for the reduction in electricity output, the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) the same day increased the output of the oil-fuelled O Mon plant and put turbines at the two Ca Mau plants on operation using diesel oil. Since its operation in 2007, the PM3-CM pipeline has provided more than 7 billion cu.m of gas for the three power and fertiliser plants in the Ca Mau complex.- Dry season sparks more fire prevention efforts Localities … [Read more...]

US launches cooperation strategy for Vietnam The US Consulate General in HCM City has announced the US Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for Vietnam in 2014-2018. The strategy aims to help strengthen the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US. At a March 25 launch for the strategy, USAID Mission Director in Vietnam Joakim Parker gave a presentation on the contents of the strategy to partners, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and representatives from the private sector and provinces and cities in Vietnam. Over the next five years, USAID will provide Vietnam withUS$344 million to help implement support programs pertaining to  trade, enhancement of competitive edge, the development of the private sector and the widespread participation of all sectors in economic activities. The strategy will also help upgrade the healthcare system, provide services to prevent bird flu, treat HIV/AIDS cases and cope with climate change towards green growth. In … [Read more...]

Family of Vietnamese in ferry tragedy arrives in RoK Family members of 29-year-old Vietnamese Phan Ngoc Thanh, who was on board the capsized vessel off the Republic of Korea’s southwestern coast on April 16, have arrived in the RoK to wait for new information about her fate. Born in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, Thanh got married and naturalised in the RoK last July under the name “Han Yun Ji”, with two children. She and her husband and son onboard the vessel are still unaccounted for while her five-year-old girl Kwon Ji-yeon was saved as the youngest passenger from the disaster. Thanh’s father Phan Van Chay and her sister Phan Ngoc Hanh flew to the RoK on April 19 evening, with the assistance from the Vietnamese Embassy and the RoK’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Family and Gender Equality. They relatives met with Kwon Ji-yeon and were taken to Chindo district where the center overseeing the rescue operation of the capsized Seawol ferry is … [Read more...]