US naval officers and patients at the Da Nang Nursing Centre for the Mentally Ill in a group photo (Source: nld.com.vn) Da Nang (VNA) – Members of US Navy ships and aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson visited the Da Nang Nursing Centre for the Mentally Ill on March 6, as part of their first-ever trip to the central city. During the visit, they presented gifts to the centre and took part in different games, such as tug of war, breaking earthen pots, and pouring water into bottles. These games are regular activities of the centre to help patients enhance physical strength and memory. The US naval vessels, including missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and missile destroyer USS Wayne E.Meyer, began their visit to Da Nang on March 5. In the evening of their first day in the city, an US navy band took stage to the east of the local Dragon Bridge, attracting a crowd of audiences. During the visit, commanders of the US Navy ships are scheduled to pay courtesy calls to leaders … [Read more...] about US Navy officers visit Da Nang’s centre for mentally ill patients
Da nang international airport
Cham Islands officials resist plan to send tourist boats from Da Nang
A boat docks on a beach off the Cham Islands. The world biosphere reserve is vulnerable to mass tourism with overloaded boats and logistics demands. (Photo: VNA) Quang Nam (VNS/VNA) - The Cham Islands off the coast of Hoi An have since 2015 limited the number of tourists permitted to 3,000 per day to protect the vulnerable world biosphere reserve site from being overrun by boats and waste, but the area is in crisis despite these efforts. Leaders of the protected area have expressed reluctance to allow in more boats, but officials from neighbouring Da Nang said they will go ahead with a plan to add a new route to the islands. Director of the Cham Islands-Hoi An Marine Protected Area (MPA) Centre Tran Thi Hong Thuy has advocated against allowing more tourists and boats from the neighbouring city of Da Nang. In April, Da Nang released a plan to develop eight aquatic tourism services – including a direct boat route from the Han River to the Cham Islands – by 2021. However, … [Read more...] about Cham Islands officials resist plan to send tourist boats from Da Nang
China prevents Vietnamese fishermen from recovering sunken vessel
The National Committee for Incident, Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue said that a fishing vessel from the central city of Da Nang had sunk near the Passu Keah Reef on Wednesday. Nine fishermen on board were rescued by a Vietnamese ship, and the Da Nang People’s Committee requested China to help the owner recover the sunken vessel. The owner later hired two ships from the central province of Quang Ngai Province to salvage the ship. However, instead of helping, a Chinese speedboat deliberately thwarted efforts to recover the sunken Vietnamese vessel Thursday. The rescue committee requested intervention from the Vietnam Foreign Ministry, Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center and the Coast Guard Command right after the Chinese speedboat showed up at 2:20 p.m. But after waiting and seeing no help coming, the fishermen who’d come to salvage the sunken vessel left at 4 p.m. Thursday. In another incident last Sunday, China declined a request from … [Read more...] about China prevents Vietnamese fishermen from recovering sunken vessel
Show of force as armed police stage terror drill in downtown
Ho Chi Minh City authorities rehearsed ways to handle security disturbance situations deploying different units in District 1 and the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Burning cars and vehicles were dealt with during the exercise. In District 1, the hypothetical situation had hundreds of people driving motorcycles, holding long sticks and banners, screaming and attacking state officials. Security forces sprayed water cannons and dispersed the crowd. Meanwhile, the sound of explosions and gunfire could be heard. Within a radius of nearly one square kilometer, the streets of Hai Ba Trung - Nguyen Dinh Chieu - Nam Ky Khoi Nghia - Nguyen Du - Pham Ngoc Thach and Le Duan in District 1 and District 3 were blocked for the drill to take place. An armed tank with sniper patrols a street. In another situation, a terrorist group occupied the District 1 People's Committee head office and held people hostage, threatening to set off … [Read more...] about Show of force as armed police stage terror drill in downtown
Event raises 1.5 billion VND for children with cancer
The Sunflower Festival on December 15 raised 1.5 billion VND for children with cancer in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – A fund raising event in Ho Chi Minh City on December 15 raised 1.5 billion VND (over 64,400 USD) for children with cancer in the country. The Sunflower Festival, the 12th of its kind, is among activities to mark the 12th year of the “Thuy’s Dream” programme held by the Vietnam Youth Union in coordination with the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The Thuy’s Dream programme for children with cancer is named after Le Thanh Thuy – a high school girl known and admired for her long fight against bone cancer prior to her death on November 2, 2007. More than 3,000 people participated in the charity walk at the festival. For each participant, the Nutifood company donated 50,000 VND to help children cancer patients. The programme also presented 160 scholarships to children who returned to school after treatment, and 1,000 gifts … [Read more...] about Event raises 1.5 billion VND for children with cancer
