On Saturday morning the air quality index (AQI) reached 172 at the monitoring station on Pham Van Dong Street, 173 at the French embassy and 177 at the station on Hang Dau Street. Monitoring app AirVisual showed 216 in the downtown West Lake area and 196 in the Sai Dong area in Long Bien District. AQI values from 150 to 200 are considered unhealthy. According to the Vietnam Environment Administration, the high figures last week were mostly due to PM2.5 fine dust. "Of all urban areas, the 24-hour average value of PM2.5 was highest in Hanoi, exceeding the permitted limit on six days during the period," the agency's report stated. The central cities of Da Nang and Hue both had PM2.5 values below the national average. The northern province of Phu Tho also had unhealthy air quality on four out of the seven days, while in Ho Chi Minh City it was unhealthy only on one day. The report also showed that air pollution is worst from late night to morning. "On days when the air quality is at … [Read more...] about Hanoi air quality persists at unhealthy levels
Monarchs high quality playing cards
Former Deputy Prime Minister played a part in wrongdoing at State-owned steel group
Politburo member and Secretary of the Hà Nội municipal Party Committee Hoàng Trung Hải.— VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — The Party Central Committee's Inspection Commission released their conclusions on Monday after its 41st meeting held in Hà Nội from December 4-6, which focused on the wrongdoings at the Standing Board of Party Committee of the State-owned Việt Nam Steel Corporation (VSC). The meeting found that the board was negligent and loose in its leadership and direction, inspection and supervision work, letting the firm commit serious wrongdoings in the implementation of the second phase of the Thái Nguyên Iron and Steel Corporation (TISCO II), causing great losses of the State money and property. Many officials and Party members involved were tried criminally, resulting in much public anger. The commission concluded that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)'s Party Civil … [Read more...] about Former Deputy Prime Minister played a part in wrongdoing at State-owned steel group
A legal framework for water supply essential in Vietnam
Tighter regulations are needed to ensure good quality water is sourced for years to come. A PSI project model implemented in Phu Thanh Commune, Nghe An Province is displayed at a conference in Hanoi. VNS Photo That was the message delivered by Nguyen Thi Hong Khanh, from the Ministry of Construction’s Technological Infrastructure Department. She believes a solid legal framework is necessary to make sure there is plenty of water for future generations. “We need a scheme for the Water Supply Law, and submit it to the Government and the National Assembly,” Khanh said. “It is needed to survey and catalogue important sources to have an effective protection, exploitation and use plan.” There are more than 200 water supply enterprises, mainly operating as joint stock companies. The national programme to ensure water supply and prevent water loss in the 2018-25 period has been implemented to promote investment and improve modern and energy-saving water … [Read more...] about A legal framework for water supply essential in Vietnam
Canada vows to help Can Tho in agriculture, health care, environment
Canadian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Kyle Nunas (L) and Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Canadian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Kyle Nunas and authorities of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on December 9 committed to bolstering bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially agriculture, health care and environment. During a working session in the city, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh said it is developing high-tech, eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture, as well as high-quality health care, which are also Canada’s strengths. She added that the city calls on foreign investors to provide modern equipment for a local cardiovascular hospital project. According to her, Can Tho also plans to establish a disease control centre to improve forecast and prevention of diseases for local residents. Nunas, for his part, said Canada is … [Read more...] about Canada vows to help Can Tho in agriculture, health care, environment
Smartphone use, internet access critical to building ‘smart’ HCM City
Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, speaks at a conference held on July 16 in the city on information and communications applications for a smart city (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - To achieve smart-city status, at least 90 percent of residents in Ho Chi Minh City should be using a smartphone by 2022, a top official said at a communications conference held in the city on July 16. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, said that smartphones were being used by only 60 percent of people in the city that leads the country’s telecommunications industry. To improve the city’s economy and solve its urgent problems, the use of new technologies must be promoted more aggressively by the city authority, he said. The city should also aim to have all households connected to the internet so that a foundation for an … [Read more...] about Smartphone use, internet access critical to building ‘smart’ HCM City