Social News 16/4

Social media – effective tool for tourism companies

Visitors learn about tours at the HCM City Tourism Fair. 

Social platforms are effective channels where online tourism firms interact with potential customers, and the travel industry must transform to keep pace with technological changes, experts have said.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Tourism, said the fourth industrial revolution is making its way into people’s lives, with almost every device being connected with the internet, representing a new way of communicating and doing business.

With Industry 4.0, the tourism industry must figure out how to adopt new technologies to engage with a customer and gain market share, he told an online tourism forum held on April 13 in HCM City as part of the HCM City Tourism Fair.

Vietnam ended 2017 with GDP growth of 6.8 percent, Huynh Bich Tran, deputy director of Nielsen Vietnam, a global information and measurement company, said.

The service sector also saw significant growth, and contributing to this was increasing tourism and a number of government initiatives, she said.

The number of domestic tourists reached 73 million last year, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent, while the number of foreign tourists rose by 30 percent to 13 million. 

Vietnamese consumer confidence finished 2017 on a high note as Vietnam continued to be ranked as the seventh most optimistic country in the world, according to the latest issue of the Conference Board Global Consumer Confidence Survey done in collaboration with Nielsen.

There was a sustained high confidence level among Vietnamese consumers through 2017, the survey found.

Vietnamese consumers were eager to spend on big ticket items to enhance the quality of life. Nearly half of all consumers were willing to spend their spare cash on buying new clothes (49 percent) and on holidays (44 percent).

There were 23 million “connected” spenders – referring to people who have access to the internet — in Vietnam in 2015 and the number is expected to nearly double to 40 million by 2025, according to Nielsen.

By 2025 their spending is expected to account for a half of all consumer spending.

Smartphones sustain the growth momentum as usage and ownership keep increasing in Vietnam.

According to the 2017 Nielsen Vietnam Smartphone Insights Report, the number of people using smartphones accounted for 84 percent of all phone users in 2017 compared to 78 percent a year earlier.

In secondary cities, 71 percent of people use smartphones out of the 93 percent that use mobile phones.

More notably, in rural areas, while 89 percent of the population own a mobile phone, 68 percent of them possess a smartphone.

Social media could be a channel to bring customers to online tourism enterprises, and optimising access for connected customers holds the key to success, Tran said.

Some sources that customers consult before using services include social media (60 percent), friends and relatives (48 percent) and online travel forums (45 percent), she said.

The feedback and comments on forums from earlier customers have a strong effect on the decision of new customers, she added.

According to Jennifer Chau, business manager of Facebook Vietnam, on average Vietnamese customers spend three hours a day on mobile phones, more than on newspapers (56 minutes), television (1.4 hours) or radio (43 minutes).

It is expected that by 2021 half of online tourism revenues would come from mobile phones.

“There are 59 million active Facebook users in Vietnam, with 97 percent of them using smart phones to browse,” she said.

All travellers are users of social platforms and Facebook is the top social platform, according to Chau.

Creative videos with good contents are the most effective way to touch potential customers.

Lao students in Son La enjoy traditional Bunpimay Festival

Tay Bac University holds a celebration of Bunpimay Festival for Lao students on April 13. 

Tay Bac University, a public higher education institution in the northern mountainous province of Son La, held a celebration of Bunpimay Festival for its Lao students on April 13.

Bunpimay Festival, the traditional New Year of Laos, has been annually celebrated by Tay Bac University in April with various cultural and sport activities as well as art performances.

The Lao and Vietnamese students together lighted candles, splashed water and tied threads on twists of each other, which are among the traditional rituals of the Bunpimay Festival to wish for peace and a happy New Year.

The Lao and Vietnamese students tie threads on each other’s twists, a tradition of Bunpimay Festival. (Photo: VNA)

The students and lecturers join a ceremony to light candles to wish for peace and a happy Bunpimay Festival. (Photo: VNA)

“It is the second year I has celebrated the Bunpimay in the university. Though far away from home, I feel really happy as my lecturers and classmates have shown me warm affection and taken special care of me on these days,” said Koungnang Laeunglutthavong, a Lao student of the university.

“The Bunpimay Festival often takes place from April 14-16, coinciding with the time when students are preparing for examinations. So we cannot go back home for the festival. Thanks to the university, I am having a warm and cheerful Bunpimay like I had at home,” added Syvui Bun Buu Phanh from Laos.

According to Nguyen Thieu Son, deputy rector of Tay Bac University, the university now has 602 Lao students, including 589 undergraduate and foundation students and 13 postgraduate ones.

HCM City seminar launches emission reduction project

Deputy head of Climate Change Department Truong Duc Tri 

A seminar was held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 13 to launch a 2018 Project to Support the Planning and Implementation of the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (SPI-NAMA). 

The event was co-hosted by the MoNRE, the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s Office in Vietnam. 

Speaking at the event, representative of the municipal Climate Change Office Nguyen Huy Phuong said Ho Chi Minh City records huge emission with 38.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, accounting for nearly 13 percent of the country’s total. 

He said the city plans to refine legal regulations on emission reduction, enhance global cooperation, attract investment and improve management in the field. 

Chief of the SPI-NAMA project’s short-term research group Makoto Kato suggested saving energy by installing solar panels on high-rise buildings, using rapid buses and urban railway instead of personal vehicles, collecting exhaust fumes in landfills to manufacture organic fertiliser, recycle urban solid wastes, and collect fowl and cattle droppings to manufacture biogas. 

Luong Quang Huy, chief of the Greenhouse Emission Reduction Office under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE)’s Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change said under the greenhouse emission scenario, Vietnam will emit 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2018, 500 million tonnes by 2020, 600 million tonnes by 2025 and 800 million tonnes by 2030. 

He said between 2021-2030, Vietnam has pledged to reduce 8 percent of greenhouse emission, or nearly 62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, with only domestic resources, and 25 percent with global support in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture and wastes. 

By 2015, the country will reduce greenhouse emission by 45 percent, increase the use of renewable energy to 44 percent and forest coverage by more than 50 percent. 

In order to achieve above targets, Vietnam has taken 45 mitigation measures with the use of necessary resources and technology. 

The MoNRE has submitted a Decree on greenhouse emission roadmap to the Prime Minister for approval this year.

Conference reviews climate change response support programme

A conference took place in Hanoi on April 13 to review the support programme in response to climate change. 

The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Department of Climate Change and the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment. 

Speaking at the event, head of the Department of Climate Change Tang The Cuong said Vietnam has actively realised commitments mentioned at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-21). 

He said Vietnam’s major policies in 2019, which should be added to a policy framework to submit to the Prime Minister in June 2018, will contribute to refining mechanisms towards the full implementation of the Paris Agreement to be valid in the country from 2021. 

Deputy head of the Department of Climate Change Pham Van Tan said eight goals of the support programme in response to climate change include response to natural disasters, climate monitor, ensuring water and food security amidst climate change, response to rising seawater level and disaster risks in vulnerable areas, sustainable forest management and development, emission reduction, response capacity improvement, and diversifying financial resources and improving investment efficiency. 

WB environment expert Stephen Ling lauded the Vietnamese government for basically achieving goals set in 2016 and 2017 and vowed to assist Vietnam in devising the policy framework in the near future. 

Over the past decade, the programme has made great contributions to climate change response in Vietnam. Each year, development partners together with ministries and agencies meet to discuss framework policies approved by the Prime Minister and agreed on priority policies in the coming years.

Chinese Embassy in Vietnam meets with local reporters

Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam Yin Haihong (second, left) speaks at the meeting (Source: tuoitre.vn)

The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam met with local reporters in Hanoi on April 13 to brief them about the country’s major internal and external policies after meetings of the 13th National People’s Congress and the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam Yin Haihong said that in the past five years, China’s posted an annual average growth rate of 7.1 percent, while its contribution to the world economy rose from 11.4 percent to 15 percent.

During the period, people’s consumption contributing to the country’s economic growth increased from 54.9 percent to 58.8 percent, she said, adding that the ratio of service sector rose from 45.3 percent to 51.6 percent, making it a major motivation of China’s economic development.

China’s urbanization ratio rose from 52.6 percent to 58.5 percent, while its contributions in technological advance increased from 52.2 percent to 57.5 percent. Its poverty rate dropped to 3.1 percent from 10.2 percent, said Yin.

While highlighting the relationship between China and Vietnam, Yin said that China has always paid much attention to developing relations with Vietnam.

She noted that after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Party General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping chose Vietnam as the destination for his first visit abroad, showing China’s great attention to the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The diplomat said that after the two important meetings in 2018, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Vietnam, marking the first visit to a foreign nation by a leader of the new Chinese government after the meetings.

According to Yin, China and China are maintaining a sound relationship that is entering a new period. Two-way trade exceeded 100 billion USD in 2017, she said, adding that China has been the biggest trade partner of Vietnam in many years. About 10 million people of both countries have visited each other’s country.

Yin stressed that the two nations should boost cross-border cooperation, while fostering connectivity and seeking stronger partnership in economy, trade, investment, culture, tourism, military affairs, law enforcement and science-technology.

The Chinese official also highlighted the role of the press in boosting the growth of bilateral ties and enhancing mutual understanding between people of the two countries.

She said China welcomes Vietnamese reporters to visit China to introduce the development of the relations between the two Parties, nations and people, affirming that the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam is willing to support and prioritise jounalists.

Regarding prioritised areas in Vietnam-China cooperative ties in the coming time, Yin said that the two sides will continue maintaining meetings and mutual visits by senior leaders of the two Parties and countries, while stepping up cooperation in the areas of investment, labour, culture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and media.

Australia helps Vietnam with slaughtering management, skills

The Vietnam Meat Industries JSC (VISSAN), one of Vietnam’s largest food producers, on April 13 launched a training project on slaughtering skills, aiming to improve the local slaughtering capacity and hygiene.

Funded by the Embassy of Australia and carried out by the programme Aus4skills, the project is part of a progamme on management, training and exchange of skills (MATES) to enhance the accessibility and sustainability of cattle trade between Vietnam and Australia. 

VISSAN is one of two facilities in southern Vietnam selected by the programme to host the skill training sessions.

The project will focus on improving slaughtering skills and hygiene and increasing product lifecycle, distribution, and marketing.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said cooperation between Vietnamese and Australian enterprises is expanding in different areas, including investment, trade and agriculture. It is a positive signal for the start of a new era in the two countries’ partnership, he noted.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expects that the bilateral relations in general and cooperation between the business communities of the two nations will further develop in the future, with active transfer of slaughtering technology and vocational training from Australia that will help bring more high-quality, safe and value-added food products to the Vietnamese market, he added.

Australian Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud described  Vietnam as a vibrant and potential market, offering many opportunities for firms from both sides. He reiterated that Vietnam remains as one of Australia’s key partners.

HCM City to host activities for Hung Kings’ death anniversary

A ceremony commemorating the death anniversary of Hung Kings in Ho Chi Minh City in 2017 

A series of cultural and entertainment activities and art performance shows will be organised in Ho Chi Minh City to commemorate the death anniversary of Hung Kings in 2018. 

A ceremony commemorating the death anniversary of Hung Kings will be held at the Hung Kings Memorial site in the National Historical and Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh City on April 25 (the 10th day of the third lunar month), featuring traditional rituals such as processions, and incense and flower offerings.

Art and traditional marital art performance programmes, dragon dances and drum performance will be orgnaised at the site on April 24-25. 

The first Chung cake-making contest, and a wide range of other activities such as a book exhibition, kite performance, folk games, calligraphy and food exhibition will also take place on April 22-23.

Legend has it that the Hung Kings ruled Vietnam from 2879 BC until 258 BC and are considered the founders of the nation. To honour the Kings, the tenth day of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for them. 

The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings was recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.

Ethnic culture in Son La province to be introduced

A performance of “Khen” art 

A traditional market in the northwestern province of Son La will be re-enacted at a festival honouring Vietnam’s ethnic groups, scheduled to take place during the Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holidays at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.

The market day will introduce local dishes and folk games of people in the Mong, Dao, Thai, Muong, Kho Mu and Tay groups to visitors.

Themed Colours of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups, the festival will also honour typical cultural characteristics of ethnic groups in Son La, including Mong people’s “Khen” art (a type of bamboo pipe) and the “pieu” scarf of Thai women, a specialty of their costume.

The Xen Cung festival of Kho Mu people in Dien Bien province will also be re-enacted at the event.

“Khen” art of the Mong ethnic group in Son La was named national intangible cultural heritage in 2015. 

Cultural activities are frequently held at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi’s Son Tay town to promote and preserve the rich and diverse cultures of 54 ethnic groups across the country.

Diverse activities mark Vietnam’s Ethnic Culture Day 2018

Cao Bang meets standards on education universalisation

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do speaks at the working session with Cao Bang’s authorities 

The northern mountainous province of Cao Bang has been recognised to have met standards on education universalisation and illiteracy eradication in 2017. 

A delegation of the Ministry of Education and Training led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Huu Do made the recognition during a working session with the province’s authorities on April 13. 

Specifically, Cao Bang has fulfilled requirements for preschool universalisation, and for primary education universalisation at second level. The province also satisfied requirements for junior high school education universalisation and illiteracy eradication both at first level. 

The standards cover the quantity and quality of teachers, along with teaching and learning facilities and equipment. 

Also in 2017, eight districts of Cao Bang completed illiteracy eradication at first level and five achieved the second level. 

Besides, all communes and towns of the province had community learning centres. 

To build up the achievement, Cao Bang will begin the assessment and classification of different education models while working to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the network of continuing education centres. 

The province will also assess the outcomes of a project on building a learning society in 2012-2020.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Huu Do hailed the provincial administration for taking effective measures in popularising education and reforming teaching methods for better education quality and sustained outcomes of education universalisation. 

He recommended that the province prepare resources to build facilities serving the development of a learning society and pay more attention to strengthening community learning centres.

Hoc Mon district eyes urban farming

The outlying district of Hóc Môn in HCM City plans to focus on urban farming as part of the national “new-style rural area” programme in which it takes part.

Lê Thanh Liêm, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said that urban farming could increase the income of local residents, which is an aim of the new rural area programme.  

Liêm spoke at a seminar in Hóc Môn District on Thursday (April 12) on the status of the district’s new rural areas and tasks for the rest of the year.

Hóc Môn’s urban farming models are considered effective, including cultivation of honeydew melons, mushrooms and orchids in net houses, the farming of hydroponic vegetables and breeding of ornamental fish.

Nguyễn Sĩ Phước, deputy head of the district’s Farmers Association, said that urban farming models are equipped with modern facilities and bring high profits to farmers.

Training courses on advanced farming techniques have been regularly organised by the district. 

The district’s 17 agricultural co-operatives and 20 agricultural co-operative teams also operate effectively, he said.

In the 2016-17 period, the district’s 10 communes have met an average of 10 of the 19 criteria set under the national target programme for new-style rural areas.

Last year, the average annual income of residents in Hóc Môn reached VNĐ51 million (US$2,200) per capita.

The district aims to have annual income VNĐ63 million ($2,770) per capita by 2020, according to the district’s People’s Committee.

Đỗ Thị Lâm Tuyền, deputy chairwoman of the People’s Committee, said the district had mobilised more than VNĐ3.16 trillion ($139 million) from various sources to implement the programme.

The district’s 178 farmer households have also donated more than 7,400 sq.m of land to upgrade and expand roads in the 2016-17 period.

Farming households have contributed more than 2,000 days of work to dredge drainage ditches, and to consolidate embankments and lanes in fields.  

Despite these improvements, participants at the seminar said that slow investment in infrastructure was hindering progress.

The district has 18 rural roads under construction that are behind schedule because of land clearance obstacles.

Phước said that each commune in the district should establish at least one more modern farming model to improve agricultural value. The models should focus on the district’s key products like vegetables, mushrooms, orchids and ornamental plants.

The district’s 50-ha water spinach area, which is planted under Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practice standards, has a stable outlet.

Nguyễn Cư, secretary of the district’s Party Committee, said the new rural area programme had helped improve the lives of residents.

Health insurance fund should be well-managed: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam called for boosting cooperation in social insurance fund management to ensure both benefits and savings are maximised.

Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam at a dialogue held on Thursday in Hà Nội between leaders of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Việt Nam Social Security (VSS). — Photo VGP“Balancing the health insurance fund is very important in the context of increasing medical costs and lowering health insurance premiums,” he said.

He spoke at a dialogue held on Thursday in Hà Nội between leaders of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Việt Nam Social Security (VSS) and the Vietnam Private Hospital Association (VPHA) on problems related to private medical facilities.

Deputy PM Đam stressed that the policy of the Party and the State was to encourage the private health sector to develop and implement policies on protecting and improving the people’s health in accordance with the law and to ensure that policy makers take into account real-life conditions.

Currently, the number of private hospital beds accounts for about 5 per cent of the total number of hospital beds nationwide. There are more than 30,000 private clinics.

The VSS has signed medical examination and treatment contracts with more than 600 private medical facilities. In 2016, the health insurance program paid VNĐ 6.6 trillion (US$286 million) for 17 million medical examinations and treatments in private sector.

Last year, as much as VNĐ8.6 billion (approximately 10 per cent of total national health insurance spending) was paid for 24.8 million medical treatments in the sector.

At the dialogue, Nguyễn Văn Đệ, chairman of the VPHA, raised 10 proposals that should be discussed. These included questions about the health insurance contract and the untimely payment for medical examinations and treatment, causing difficulties for private medical facilities. The fact that patients in private hospitals don’t get the same support as public ones in terms of health insurance payment was also a matter of concern.

Đệ suggested a number of mechanisms and regulations should be adjusted to support private health facilities, ensuring equity between private and public health care and better serving patients. He cited the signing of health insurance contracts as a typical example of discrepancies between public and private care.

Đệ said a number of private health facilities were “inferior” in signing health insurance payment contracts with the social insurance agency or had their contracts suspended suddenly after violations were detected.

Phạm Lương Sơn, deputy general of VSS, acknowledged that shortcomings in the signing and implementation of health insurance contracts had occurred in a number of localities. 

He said the VSS would soon issue guidance documents and request health insurance offices at provinces and cities strictly follow articles in the signed contracts.

Sơn stressed that VSS always encouraged private hospitals to participate in medical examination and treatment so that people would have more choices and public hospitals wouldn’t develop a monopoly in the health sector.

In response to opinions from representatives of private hospitals and clinics who expressed their anxiety over the delay in payment of health insurance for examinations and treatments, Phúc said it took a long time to reach an agreement between health insurance claims assessors and private health facilities.

He said due punishment had been imposed on health insurance offices at localities which experienced delays in making payments.

Đệ also admitted that a number of private hospitals had submitted reports to the health insurance agency too late, leading to low payment, adding that the association has requested its members abide by approved regulations.

At the end of the dialogue, the Deputy PM said that in the future, the MoH, the VSS and the private medical facilities should increase dialogue and information in order to immediately handle problems which arise.

Hospitals urged to improve management of health insurance costs

Also on Thursday, the Việt Nam Social Security and Department of Health in HCM City instructed hospitals and other health facilities to improve management of health insurance funds used to cover insured patients.

Speaking at a meeting to review the year’s first quarter, Lưu Thị Thanh Huyền, deputy director of VSS, said the fund this year would total around VNĐ9.5 trillion (US$416.7 million). 

Last year, the fund totalled VNĐ14.3 trillion ($627 million), but the covered amount was VNĐ16.4 trillion. As many as 273 hospitals and other health facilities, including 70 public and 73 private hospitals, exceeded insured costs last year.

The fund went over the allocated budget last year because too many patients were allowed to stay over at hospitals, especially for diseases related to eyes and for traditional treatment, she said.

Medicine prescribed at high prices was also a problem, while the monitoring was weak of patients who seek care at multiple facilities in a single day, according to Huyền.

Đinh Thị Liễu, head of the city’s Department of Health’s finance and planning division, said expenditures should be better managed as some hospitals would achieve financial autonomy this year.

“If the situation does not improve, unlike in previous years, it will take time to be reimbursed to cover the excess costs because authorities will want to ask questions about why the costs were too high,” she added.

Dr Đinh Thanh Hưng, director of Tân Phú District Hospital, said that medical staff at the hospital were worried about what they see as unavoidable costs. “As many as 200,000 outpatients, including those who are insured, who come from other areas in the city and provinces visit the hospital every day,” Hưng said.

He said the insurance fund payments for insured patients were too low. “The cost for surgery to remove a tumour in the chest, for instance, is VNĐ120,000,” he said.

Emissions-mitigation project kicks off in HCM City

An emissions-mitigation workshop discussed upcoming activities at a workshop held in HCM City on April 13. 

Activities for a project that will reduce the amount of emissions nationwide kicked off in HCM City yesterday at an inception workshop.

The project, officially called “Support Planning and Implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions” (SPI-NAMA), deals with regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, legislative actions, and local authorities’ responsibilities.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MONRE), HCM City’s Department of Natural Resource and Environment, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Attendees included officials of Việt Nam’s ministries, departments, research institutes and private sector; as well as Japanese advisors, experts and specialists.

Dr. Lương Quang Huy, director of MONRE’s Department of Climate Change, spoke about Việt Nam’s current readiness for Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation, including a decree regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and an emissions reduction roadmap, among other issues.

According to the roadmap decree, GHG emissions in Việt Nam should be reduced by 6.6 per cent by 2025, or about 40 million tonnes of CO2 compared with business-as-usual (BAU). By 2030, reductions should reach at least 8 percent, or about 62.8 million tonnes of CO2 compared with BAU.

Nguyễn Huy Phương from the Climate Change Bureau of the city’s Department of Natural Resource and Environment reported the results of the SPI-NAMA project in the 2015-17 period as well as the HCM City Climate Change Action Plan for 2017-20.

HCM City discharges about 38.5 million tones of carbon dioxide, accounting for 26 per cent of the country’s total emissions.

Makoto Kato, team leader of SPI-NAMA project’s HCM City Component, described the 2018 work plan for technical works in HCM City.

He said the city’s climate change action plan would be strengthened at the policy level; a city-level GHG inventory would be improved, based on past cooperation; and an action plan and MRV [Measurement, Reporting and Verification] for energy efficiency in the transport sector would be developed.

Planned activities include revision of the current policy framework; city-level monitoring and evaluation to support quantification of the impact of policy; and support for action plan development and MRV for targeted sectors.

Disabled people need more support

Handicraft products of people with disabilities are displayed at a fair on the sidelines of the workshop. 

Although the Government and citizens offer some support to people with disabilities, much more needs to be done, according to officials.

This was affirmed by delegates at the workshop entitled ‘Policies and credit solutions for developing vocational training, creating jobs and introducing products of people with disabilities’ which was held in Hà Nội on Thursday by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) in collaboration with Việt Nam Social Policy Bank (SPB) and Nippon Japan Foundation.

Participants said that in the past three years, vocational training and job creation for the disabled have encountered many difficulties.

Many organisations and businesses have worked to create jobs for disabled people but co-ordination has been poor, and there was no agency responsible for monitoring and researching the number of people with disabilities or how many need vocational training or jobs.

In addition, the preferential fund for people with disabilities was still limited, delegates said.

According to Lê Tấn Dũng, deputy minister of MOLISA, the loan source for disabled people and enterprises employing disabled people mostly came from the National Fund for Employment and from Nippon.

At present, there was no source of capital dedicated for people with disabilities to develop economically, he said.

People with disabilities still struggled to access loans because the Government has no mechanism for allocation of these loans, said Nguyễn Văn Lý, deputy general director of SPB.

A SPB report shows that in 2017, more than 2,365 projects of people with disabilities and enterprises employing disabled labourers have received loans, creating jobs for 2,540 disabled workers.

However, more than 11,000 disabled people need loans, Lý said.

Director of the Sóc Sơn Handicraft Co-operative, Đinh Thị Quỳnh Nga, said to help disabled people, agencies need to provide preferential policies to people with disabilities that are members of co-operatives and help the co-operatives access loans with low interest rates.

Lý also said the Government should continue improving the system of legal documents on people with disabilities, helping them benefit from the policies of the State.

At the same time, the Government should pay more attention to vocational training and allocate resources for credit policy programmes, he said.

According to the MOLISA, Việt Nam now has about eight million people with disabilities.

Some 87.27 per cent of them live in rural areas, 65 per cent are working age yet only 30 per cent are employed.

There are many stores displaying products made by people with disabilities on the sidelines of the workshop, helping them exchange experience and access information on vocational training, financial services, banking and insurance.

225-kg bomb found on road construction site

Soldiers from the 319 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company move the 225-kg bomb found in Tiên Lãng Commune, Tiên Yên District in Quảng Ninh Province on Friday. 

A Mark 82 (MK 82 – an unguided bomb) bomb weighing 225 kilos was found on Friday morning at a road construction site in Thủy Cơ Hamlet, Tiên Lãng Commune in northeastern province of Quảng Ninh.

The 319 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company under the Ministry of Defence detected the bomb during an inspection to prepare for the Vân Đồn- Móng Cái expressway construction project.

The bomb, believed to be left from American war in 1972, was 225 kilos and 1.54 metres long.

The company removed the bomb to a safe place where it was deactivated. According to the company, it has found and deactivated another 10 explosive devices on the expressway construction site so far. 

Châu Đốc aims to become spiritual destination

Temple visit: Visitors at Bà Chúa Xứ (Lady Xứ) Temple in Châu Đốc Town. — Photo thanhnien.vn

Châu Đốc Town in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang has launched a project on sustainable tourism for the 2018-25 period to promote the town as a spiritual and cultural destination with unique tourism products and services.

Trần Quốc Tuấn, vice chairman of Châu Đốc Town’s People’s Committee, said that the project would focus on developing sustainable tourism, and help raise public awareness of professional and responsible tourism practices that contribute to local economic growth.

The project, called “Communication, Promotion, Human Resources Training and Brand Building for Châu Đốc Tourism”, has a total cost of VNĐ40 billion (US$1.76 million).

During the first phase of the project from 2018 to 2020, the town will focus on human resource training and marketing activities for products at home and abroad, according to Tuấn.

In the second phase from 2021 to 2025, the town will promote corporate brands and create market recognition in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and Southeast Asia, among other overseas markets.

The People’s Committee also announced that it had chosen a logo for the town with the image of seven lotus petals and Bà Chúa Xứ (Lady Xứ) Temple.

Millions of pilgrims flock to Lady Xứ Temple at the foot of Sam Mountain in Châu Đốc Town every year, especially during the temple’s most important festival held annually from the 23rd to the 27th day of the fourth lunar month.

Châu Đốc Town, with significant Chinese, Cham and Khmer communities, is famous for Sam Mountain, its centuries-old pagodas and the Trà Sư Bird Santuary.

Last year, the town attracted 4.9 million tourists and pilgrims. 

Tâm takes lead in HCM City cycling event

Nguyễn Thành Tâm celebrates his stage win yesterday. — Photo plo.vn

Nguyễn Thành Tâm won the 15th stage and took the yellow jersey at the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament yesterday.

Tâm of Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang completed the 40km stage around Tuy Hòa City in Phú Yên Province with a time of 1:02.34. This is his fourth win in the tournament.

Tâm replaced Huỳnh Thanh Tùng of Military Zone 7, who finished fourth, as the leader of the tour. Tâm recorded a total time of 35:52.23. Tùng was just two seconds behind. Edgar Espaola Nito of Ynghua Đồng Nai stood third, clocking 36:53.18.

This win was a sweet revenge for Tâm who had lost his jersey to Tùng in the tournament two years ago in Phú Yên.

In the green jersey race, Lê Nguyệt Minh of Minh Giang-HCM City came second and Trần Nguyễn Duy Nhân of Military Zone 7, who had won the previous stage, came third.

Minh still leads the race with 177 points.

Positions in the team ranking did not change. VUS-HCM were on top, followed by Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang and Military Zone 7.

The 120km 16th stage will be held today from Tuy Hòa to Nha Trang City in Khánh Hòa Province. Cyclists will have to conquer the Cả Pass. Bikelife Đồng Nai’s Loic Desriac is currently the leading contender in the race for the red polka dot jersey for the King of Mountain.

Sanna Khánh Hòa defeat Quảng Ninh Coal in V.League 1

Sanna Khánh Hòa vs Quảng Ninh Coal in the fifth round of the V.League 1 yesterday. Khánh Hòa won 1-0. — Photo bongda.com.vn

Midfielder Hoàng Nhật Nam scored Sanna Khánh Hòa’s only goal to help his team defeat Quảng Ninh Coal by a score of 1-0, in the fifth round of the V.League 1 yesterday.

Making full use of their home advantage, the Sanna Khánh Hòa players, coached by Võ Đình Tân, dominated the game during the first 20 minutes.

The visitors, Quảng Ninh Coal, fought back with strong attacking play by Phạm Nguyên Sa, Nguyễn Hải Huy and Nghiêm Xuân Tú.

However, without their key striker Eydison Teofilo Soares, who was out with an injury, Quảng Ninh Coal could not score during the first half.

After the break, Tân changed his team’s tactics and substituted players to win the three points.

In the 55th minute, Quảng Ninh midfielder Dương Thanh Hào illegally tackled striker Lâm Ti Phông inside the 16.5 metre area, and the hosts won a penalty. However, striker Youssouf Toure failed to beat the Quảng Ninh goalkeeper, Huỳnh Tuấn Linh.

In the 79th minute, after receiving a spectacular pass from Toure, Nam scored the opener for Khánh Hòa.  

With the win, Khánh Hòa is now on top of the league rankings with 10 points, followed by Hà Nội and Quảng Ninh Coal.

Hailstones rain down on mountainous Lao Cai province

The hail in Nam Chay commune of Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province, blanketed the ground with hailstones 1 – 1.5cm in diameter 

Hailstones accompanied by whirlwinds rained down on many places in Muong Khuong district, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, in the early morning of April 15.

Pham Xuan Thinh, deputy head of the agriculture division of Muong Khuong, said the slight hail, a result of a cold snap moving from the north, occurred in early morning during 0am to 5am in almost all communes of the district, lasting from five to 15 minutes.

However, he said, the hail did not cause considerable human or property damage.

Residents in Nam Chay commune said the hail, along with strong winds, lasted for 15 minutes, blanketing the ground with hailstones 1 – 1.5cm in diameter.

This was the second hail recorded in Lao Cai province since the beginning of 2018. It ended the hot weather and pushed temperatures down to 17 – 20 degrees Celsius, according to Director of the Lao Cai hydro-meteorological station Luu Minh Hai.

Vietnamese culture attracts visitors at int’l fair in Mexico

Visitors show interest in Vietnamese handicrafts at the 10th International Friendly Cultures Fair in Mexico City 

The Vietnamese culture has impressed visitors at the 10th International Friendly Cultures Fair, which opened at Zocalo square in Mexico City, Mexico, on April 14.

After the fair’s opening ceremony, the pavilion of Vietnam, introducing the country’s landscapes and people, special handicrafts, ao dai (women’s traditional costume), and non la (traditional conical hats), attracted thousands of visitors.

A number of Mexicans and foreigners described the Vietnamese culture as unique and charming, which could be seen in women’s ao dai and lacquer products. Meanwhile, typical dishes of Vietnam like nem ran (fried spring roll) and coffee also inspired visitors’ interest.

Many visitors expressed their hope for increased presence of the Vietnamese culture in Mexico, adding that they also want to learn more about the country.

The International Friendly Cultures Fair 2018 draws the participation of 90 countries around the world, featuring hundreds of cultural activities. It is expected to attract 3 million visitors before wrapping up on April 29.

Criteria needed for model rural residential areas: Deputy PM

Building transport infrastructure in Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province (Illustrative image. 

Vietnam Railways to add 30,000 tickets during upcoming holidays

The VNR plans to operate more trains to serve the increasing travel demand during the upcoming holidays. 

Ho Chi Minh City bolsters tourism ties with Binh Thuan, Lam Dong

Foreign visitors to Ben Thanh Market in HCM City 

Hanoi hosts National Volleyball Championship 

The tournament promises to bring exciting and thrilling matches to volleyball lovers. 

V.League 2018: Oseni hat-trick ensures resounding Hanoi FC win at SHB Da Nang

Nigerian striker Oseni shines with a hattrick against SHB Da Nang. 

Women’s career day opens in Ho Chi Minh City

The event features many activities related to enrolment, vocational counselling, unemployment insurance, interviews and direct labour recruitment. (Photo: nld.com.vn)

 Co Tu ethnic cultural festival opens in Da Nang

A festival featuring the traditional culture of the Co Tu ethnic community in the central city of Da Nang and the central province of Quang Nam, kicked off at Gian Bi village, Hoa Bac commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city on April 13.15,000 new cooperatives to be built by 2020

At the signing ceremony

CAAV to launch representative office in Van Don Int’l Airport

A design mock up of Van Don International Airport

HoREA disagrees tax under VND1 billion housing

Slums alongside river in district 8 

HCMC tightens health insurance regulations

This year, Ho Chi Minh City is allowed to spend nearly VND10 trillion ($438.7 million), a decrease of nearly VND4 trillion compared to last year.

Denmark backs Vietnam in strengthening NCD prevention

Vietnam and Denmark are working on new cooperation in the health sector, aiming to improve the prevention, early detection and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Vietnam.Vietnamese doctors apply DSA for coronary artery treatment

Surgeons of the City International Hospital have successfuly applied Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) for treating a patient with coronary artery, heart failure, chronic kidney, high blood pressure, diabetes, hepatitis C and tuberculosis.Yamashita Hong An becomes champion of sixth Dream Fulfilling contest

Wishing to become a special education researcher, twelfth grader Yamashita Hong An from the school for the gifted students became the champion of the sixth Dream Fulfilling contest held in the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House on April 14.HCMC General Sciences Library turns 40

 Ho Chi Minh City’s General Sciences Library

Vietnamese citizens warned not to travel to Syria

The Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Syria or regions in its vicinity until stability is re-established in this Middle East nation.Cao Lanh Bridge to be opened to traffic this month

Cao Lanh Bridge, one of two major infrastructure projects underway in the Mekong Delta, will be opened to traffic later this month.