Life

Sao Vàng Rubber Factory in Thanh Xuân District. Photo nhandan.com.vn

HÀ NỘI – Relocating universities, hospitals, and polluted production facilities to reduce population pressure on the central areas of Hà Nội is an important goal of the six residential planning projects in four core inner-city districts.

However, the relocation process has been delayed for many years, leaving central Hà Nội exposed to the downfalls of rapid urbanisation.

Transport infrastructure has not been developed synchronously and planning of public works, green spaces and the school system has been below par.

In March, Hà Nội’s People’s Committee approved six urban planning for the four core inner-city districts of Hoàn Kiếm, Ba Đình, Hai Bà Trưng and Đống Đa.

The planning projects on 2,700ha aims to reduce the population to 672,000 people from 1.2 million people in the four districts and improve the social and technical infrastructure of the city.

Hanoians have long been waiting for concrete measures from the municipal government to bring planning to life, especially the relocation of universities, hospitals and polluted production facilities to overcome environmental pollution, traffic jams ad save land for public spaces.

“This was a very good policy. I, like many people, expected the project to be realised soon,” said Võ Thị Huệ, a resident in Hai Bà Trưng District’s Vĩnh Tuy Ward.

“The fact that industrial production plants were located in densely populated residential areas in central districts was completely inappropriate, it was necessary to quickly find solutions to bring them out of the inner city,” said Huệ.

In Vĩnh Tuy Ward, Đông Xuân Knitting Company still maintains some production units which cause smoke and dust pollution for residential areas nearby.

Local people have petitioned authorities many times but the company was not relocated even after it built a new factory in Hưng Yên Province and put it into operation.

Vũ Ngọc Quý, a resident in Đống Đa District’s Kim Liên Ward, said to reduce traffic pressure in the four central districts with a very large population, moving universities and hospitals to the outskirts is a sound policy.

A policy to relocate the headquarters of ministries, branches and central agencies out of Hà Nội’s inner city was approved in a Government resolution in 2008.

In January 2015, then-Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng issued Decision No 130/QD-TTg on measures, the relocation schedule and the use of land in central districts after the relocation of industrial production facilities, hospitals and higher education and vocational training establishments.

However, out of nine ministries, branches and central agencies that have completed construction investment and moved to work at new headquarters, only one handed over its old headquarters.

As for universities and colleges, there are 26 establishments in the four central districts, but so far, only the University of Community Health in Ba Đình District has relocated.

As for polluting establishments, in 2016, the Capital Law determined the roadmap for relocating 117 establishments in 12 districts out of the inner city by 2020.

However, the relocation work has been virtually stagnant.

A representative of the Hà Nội Department of Natural Resources and Environment said the department has been reviewing and adjusting facilities that have to be relocated after the approval of the six residential planning projects.

Recently, the Ministry of Construction acknowledged relocation was very necessary. However, the organisation and implementation of relocation were still slow.

According to the ministry, there were many reasons leading to this situation such as changes in guidelines, policies and laws affecting the progress of planning and relocation projects.

The implementation process encountered many difficulties in mobilising resources and arranging capital while relocation requires huge budgets.

In addition, the initiative, co-ordination and implementation work from agencies was not sufficient.

Dr Đào Ngọc Nghiêm, vice president of Việt Nam Urban Development Planning Association, said one of the reasons ministries and branches were slow to move to the suburban areas and hand over the land to Hà Nội authorities was because they were entangled in the Land Law.

“Because this law regulates that headquarters of ministries, branches, industrial establishments, universities, etc., are allocated land for a definite time and within the allocated time limit, they have full rights to use and exploit the land,” said Nghiêm.

“Therefore, many units have kept the old headquarters despite being allocated land to build new ones because they are still within the time limit for land allocation,” he said.

“Thus, Hà Nội needed a specific mechanism to revoke the land soon after the units relocate. At that time, the urban areas would have more favourable factors to solve problems such as population expansion and additional land for infrastructure development,” he said.

To hasten the relocation of industrial production facilities, the Hà Nội People’s Committee has established a steering committee for relocation, built a list of works that need to be relocated and proposed criteria and roadmaps for relocation in 12 inner-city districts, according to the Ministry of Construction.

For the relocation of medical, education and training facilities, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education are implementing separate planning programmes on their relocation.

According to Nguyễn Đức Hùng, vice director of Hà Nội Planning and Construction Institute, one of the most important goals of the zoning plan of the historic inner city districts was to relocate the headquarters of ministries, branches and universities.

“At that time, it would create a land fund of about 176ha to build public works and green spaces that is now very lacking, and moving about 100,000 people out of the areas,” Hùng said.

“However, the actual implementation is not simple. Along with Hà Nội’s responsibility, the drastic participation of all levels, branches, the whole political system is needed with high determination to soon achieve the goals,” he added. – VNS

By Nguyễn Hằng

Nguyễn Văn Thái (second, left), 39, director of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife during one of his trips to release pangolins into the wild. — Photo courtesy of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Văn Thái, 39, director of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, has become the first Vietnamese wildlife conservationist and the only Asian to receive the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize – the world’s most prestigious award for grassroots environmental activists.

The prize honours grassroots environmental heroes from the world’s six inhabited continental regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America.

The prize, worth US$200,000, recognises individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.

Thái was given the award at a virtual ceremony, which took place at 4pm (PDT) on Tuesday (June 15), for his contribution to rescuing 1,540 pangolins from the illegal wildlife trade between 2014 and 2020 and establishing Việt Nam’s first anti-poaching team under the co-management of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife – a local non-governmental organisation and the Government since 2018.

The team has destroyed 9,701 animal traps, dismantled 775 illegal camps, confiscated 78 guns and arrested 558 poachers between June 2018 and December 2020, leading to a significant decline in illegal poaching in Pù Mát National Park in the central province of Nghệ An.

Pangolins are the world’s most heavily poached and trafficked mammal and three out of four Asian pangolin species are critically endangered. In the past decade, an estimated one million-plus pangolins have been poached worldwide, and Việt Nam is a particular hotbed. In 2004, 60 tonnes of live pangolins were seized from poachers in Việt Nam.

In 2016, Thái opened the Carnivore and Pangolin Education Centre, the first of its kind in Việt Nam, in order to provide wildlife conservation courses to local children and the general public. He also gives training courses to customs officials, border guards and forest rangers on wildlife laws and how to properly care for seized pangolins.

As a result, nearly 8,200 children living in the buffer zone of Cúc Phương National Park have been inspired in wildlife conservation so far. About 2,500 law enforcement officers have been given training courses on wildlife conservation.

Normally, prize winners are awarded the prize in-person at a ceremony at the San Francisco Opera House, the United States, in April, but this year, in light of the coronavirus outbreak, the prize will be awarded virtually and shared on social media on June 15.

Prize winners are selected by an international jury from confidential nominations submitted by a worldwide network of environmental organisations and individuals.

Five other winners of this year are Gloria Majiga-Kamoto, of Malawi; Maida Bilal, of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Kimiko Hirata, of Japan; Sharon Lavigne, of the United States; and Liz Chicaje Churay, of Peru.

The Goldman Environmental Prize was established in 1989 by late San Francisco civic leaders and philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman.

In 32 years, the prize has had an immeasurable impact on the planet. To date, the prize has honoured 206 winners, including 92 women, from 92 nations, and has shone a light on many of the critical issues facing the Earth.

Thái checks a pangolin in his centre in Ninh Bình Province. — Photo courtesy of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife

Surprised and proud

Thái said: “I was really surprised when I heard I was one of the prize winners this year.”

Because he did not have to submit an application or apply, the organisers of the prize secretly found candidates, evaluated and then announced the winners, he added.

“I am also very proud to be the first Vietnamese working in the field of wildlife protection to receive the award,” Thái said.

“This is the biggest prize I have received in my life so far,” he said.

Thái planned to spend the money on the conservation of pangolins and wildlife in the future, he said.

The award was recognition for his tireless efforts in protecting wildlife, he said.

“I think the award will help me build more trust among international partners, sponsors and the Vietnamese community so that they will co-operate with me in wildlife conservation in the future,” he said.

Motivation for wildlife conservation

Thái grew up near Cúc Phương National Park in the northern province of Ninh Bình. When he was a child, he witnessed a mother and baby pangolin being caught and killed by people in his village.

“Therefore, I decided to make pangolin conservation my life’s work,” he said.

He applied to study Forest Protection and Management at the Forestry University in 2001-2005.

Five years later, he went to the United Kingdom for a six-month course on wildlife conservation management in 2010.

Then he studied for a master’s degree in wildlife conservation at the National University of Australia in 2012.

Thái said in 2014 – when he set up Save Vietnam’s Wildlife – a centre to secure a future for Vietnamese wildlife, he realised that most of the wildlife conservation activities were momentary and short-term.

“They are not sustainable,” he said.

Most projects to conserve wildlife at that time were carried out under the sponsorship of international organisations, he added.

Thus, he decided to establish the centre to save Việt Nam’s wildlife in the long-term, he said.

Advantages and disadvantages

Thái said in recent years, pangolins had become more known, so many people in the community started taking action to protect the species.

“It is one of the advantages,” he said.

Another advantage was he could combine his understanding of Vietnamese people in wildlife consumption and the knowledge he learned from international training courses and conferences for conservation, he said.

Talking about the disadvantages, Thái said building an operating mechanism for a non-profit organisation in Việt Nam was a challenge, while there were not many guidelines as well as lessons in management and administration.

Additionally, worrying about funds to implement wildlife conservation activities was also a challenge, he said.

“The habit of consuming wild animals is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, so changing their habit is a really hard and long-term task,” he added.

Moreover, the participation of non-profit organisations in wildlife conservation had not yet received much attention from State management agencies as expected, he said.

Future plans

Thái plans to grow the model of wildlife conservation, carried out by Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, to many national parks across the country.

He also wanted to contribute to the amendment of some legal documents, making use of wild animals a prohibited act and strongly condemning and sanctioning violators, he said.

They would continue developing the livelihoods for mountainous people around key conservation areas in the country, as well as enhancing information to change people’s behaviour in consuming wild animals in Việt Nam, he said.

They would also attract more businesses and individuals to contribute to wildlife and biodiversity conservation in Việt Nam in the future, he added.

“One person cannot protect wildlife, one organisation cannot protect wildlife, but all of us can. We need everyone to protect wildlife,” Thái said. — VNS

The Sheraton Binh Chau Resort & Spa – the first 5-star international hotel on the Ho Tram – Binh Chau route under the operation of Marriott International – belongs to The Venezia Beach Luxury Residences & Resort Project. This masterpiece of prosperity in the Southern Coastal Region has a design philosophy that respects the natural beauty of Vietnam.

Architectural masterpiece honors Vietnamese beauty

In partnership with the French project management consultancy Artelia Group, the final candidates for architectural design for the central part of the Venezia Beach project – The Sheraton Binh Chau Resort & Spa hotel, two condominiums, and the Clubhouse – were three prestigious international architectural design companies of Gensler, Andy Fisher Workshop, and Aedas. The winner was Aedas.

Aedas representative said that the Sheraton Binh Chau Resort & Spa hotel will not be a massive and rigid concrete structure, but a pleasant softness that attracts the eye by imitating the waves of the sea. This flexible shape helps increasing the number of sea view rooms, each with a large balcony, minimizing the visual impact of coastal buildings to appreciate the natural beauty of Vietnam.

Sheraton Binh Chau Resort & Spa – a masterpiece of wondrous design

Aedas speaks an emotional language in designing when subtly expressing the feeling of space – the theme is caves exploring in the middle of bountiful tropical forests and the charm of the sunrise on the beach, highlighting the beauty of this Southern region.

Artelia highly appreciated Aedas’s overall floor plan in which there was a clear division between the areas of the two twin towers, the Clubhouse and the hotel, and the convention center, but easy access to each area was still ensured. According to Artelia, the concept and facades of the two twin towers are quite impressive, helping to maximize the number of sea view rooms, creating many spaces for interior and landscape design. The outdoor area rooms are both spacious and ensure privacy.

Artelia is impressed with the splendid idea of the two twin towers

The Clubhouse area is inspired by the shape of a traditional Vietnamese fishing boat, linking the pool with the surrounding green area and the sea. The interior area and the Clubhouse are designed to create a visual connection towards the beach. The low-rise blocks near the coast will be prioritized for green areas. The expanded sea front area is utilized to expand the public space, facilities, and landscape.

Bringing together the top brands to brighten up the region

Aedas, with the experience of implementing more than 100 projects all over the world (of which four has won the International Property Awards last year), has met Artelia’s rigorous assessment and the fastidious requirements of Hung Vuong Developer on the high standards of branding, quality, and the value of experience.

In developing the Hotel and other parts of the Venezia Beach project, Hung Vuong Developer is proving its ability through the cooperation with prestigious partners. Remarkably, the architectural planning, house samples, and interiors are undertaken by TwoG Architecture, which has more than 16 years of experience. Infrastructure planning is the work of Indochine Engineering, a familiar partner of many high-end hotel chains throughout Vietnam. Palm Landscape – a company which has won global awards for quality and environmentally friendly design – is in charge of landscape design. And the construction general contractor is Central Cons – one of the leading construction companies in the country.

Finally, the highlights should be the cooperation between Hung Vuong Developer and Marriott International and Best Western in management and operation to ensure the highest quality of service.

“We are not just building a resort, Venezia Beach also has the heart of the founders’ team, to show the commitment of bringing the best values ​​​​to our customers,” Mr. Le Chi Hung Viet, Hung Vuong Developer CEO, affirmed.

“Bien” (Sea), “Hai Dien Vien Cheo Cam Quat” (Two Cheo Actors With Fans), and “Pho Voi Nguoi Di Xe dap Va Xe Bo” (Street Scene With Cyclist And Bull-cart) are three oil on cardboard paintings set to go under the hammer on June 17.

“Pho Voi Nguoi Di Xe dap Va Xe Bo” (Street Scene With Cyclist And Bull-cart) by Bui Xuan Phai. Photo courtesy of Larasati.

They are respectively estimated at up to $13,500, $12,750, and $10,500.

Phai’s work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from $600 to $207,770. The record price for his paintings at auction is $207,770 for “Nha” (Houses), sold at Christie’s Hong Kong earlier this year. `

Bui Xuan Phai (1921 – 1988) was a Vietnamese painter of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, who created a unique style called “Pho Phai” (Phai’s street). The artist was one of the last generations of Indochina Fine Arts College painters, along with Nguyen Sang, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Duong Bich Lien, who had a great influence on the development of modern Vietnamese art.

Entitled Secret Moments of Maikos, the exhibition offers visitors a glimpse into the hidden world of the young women, who are considered as symbols of the beauty of Japan, together with geishas and geikos.

Shot in the famous geisha district of Gion in Kyoto by French photographer Philippe Marinig, the images capture the grace and beauty of the women in this age-old profession.

All thephotos were shot in the famous geisha district of Gion in Kyoto.

Together with the photo collection, the exhibition also showcases a video by Marinig presenting a maiko who practises dancing in accordance with strict rules.

According to the website www.maiko-kyoto.jp, “Maiko is a ‘person of hospitality’. Hers is hard work, which doesn’t only include serving drinks, but also entertaining guests with Japanese traditional performances, such as dances and shamisen play. The charms of Maiko are a beautiful dance, serving guests with the mindset of superior hospitality, always being elegant and splendid, as well as creating the ‘dream world detached from the daily life’ for a little while.”

“Maiko aspires to the highest level of sophistication in the Japanese ‘hospitality businesses’,” it wrote.

A photo depicts a maiko in the background of the red autumn leaves.

Photographer Marinig was born in Château-Arnoux in the Alpes de Haute Provence in 1962 in a family of artists and became interested in photography at a very young age. After training in Photographic Art with famous veteran photographer Denis Brihat, he studied photography in Boston in the US.

For more than 10 years, from 1992 to 2005, Marinig ran his own company, specialising in the processing of advertising and fashion shoots, in Cape Town, South Africa. Since 2006, he has devoted himself entirely to artistic projects that take him to southern Africa, Japan and Europe and which are the subject of numerous solo exhibitions.

Maiko aspires to the highest level of sophistication in the Japanese ‘hospitality businesses’.

In 2010, he received the Scam Roger Pic prize, awarded by the Civil Society of Multimedia Authors.

The Secret Moments of Maikos is open to the public until June 2. The Japan Foundation is at 27 Quang Trung Street.

The exhibition is part of the month-long photography event Photo Hanoi ’21 initiated by the French Institute in Hà Nội, L’Espace, featuring 30 photographers, visual and creative artists from Việt Nam and abroad.

Through the photos and activities, Photo Hanoi ’21 tells stories as well as express diverse perspectives and approaches to the multi-coloured world prism of domestic and international photographers. VNS