Carmona bonsai tree dying

/ March 6, 2021

King Ly Thai To makes a milestone in the city’s history

The Hanoitimes - With the relocation of the capital and a comprehensive reform, Ly Cong Uan (King Ly Thai To) and his descendants succeeded in building a strong nation. Peaceful ascension to the throne The kings of the Early Le Dynasty, founded in 980, embarked on effective reforms to stabilize the political and economic situation. However, the decease of king Le Dai Hanh in 1005 led to infighting within the royal family for succeeding him. In the end, Le Dai Hanh’s fifth son, Le Long Dinh, defeated other princes to claim the crown. However, the brutal struggle that he fought for the throne caused resentment among the people. The statute of Ly Cong Uan in Hanoi. Photo: Jenna Duong. In 1009 when Le Long Dinh died at the age of 24 and his children were very small, Ly Cong Uan, a talented dignitary was supported by other court officials to ascend to the throne, peacefully seizing power from the Le. It is known as the most peaceful change of dynasty in the country’s history. From moving the capital to reforming the country Ly Cong Uan was crowned in the context of a serious political and socio-economic crisis and the threat of invasion from the Chinese Song dynasty. He was determined to end the political crisis that lasted through several reigns and bring stability to his kingdom. His first decision as king was to move the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La (Hanoi now). Hoa Lu was chosen by King Dinh Tien Hoang (924-979) as seat of his court to suit the needs of defending the nation in the early days after the civil wars. It was more appropriate for defense purposes as it is located in a low land surrounded by limestone mountains. However, it was difficult to develop an urban city here as traffic was inconvenient and its location is too distant from the thriving economic centers in the Red River Delta. In autumn of 1010, King Ly Thai To decided to move the capital of the kingdom to Dai La, mindful that the place …

/ April 6, 2020

Hanoians help the poor overcome Covid-19 pandemic

The Hanoitimes - To alleviate the hardships of the destitute people, many charity programs have been underway in Hanoi city. Kindhearted Hanoians are providing food for free to the destitute who have been left with no livelihoods due to the nationwide business shutdown to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, local media reported. The Hanoi city government has urged non-essential shops and services to close to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. Although people agreed with the authority move, it has also made life of the poor more difficult, leaving some with no means to earn a living. Nguyen Phan Huy Khoi, a businessman in Hanoi, initiates the program “You need it, you take it” to provide free meals to the destitute people. Photo: VNE To alleviate the hardships of the destitute people, many charity programs have been underway in the capital city, one such is “Sharing food every day, together overcoming Covid-19". Nguyen Phan Huy Khoi, 38, a businessman in Hanoi initiated the program “You need it, you take it” to provide free meals to the destitute people. "The enthusiastic support of the community surprises me. Many join my campaign quietly. The pandemic reveals many people in dire situation and need special attention from the community," Huy said. He added that the program is expected to last until April 15 when the current stay-at-home situation ends. However, Khoi and his friends still have plans for the possible lengthening of the business restriction period. Nguyen Thi Hoa, 45, from Nhan Chinh ward works as an hourly maid. Eight months ago, her husband died in a traffic accident and she alone has to support her three children. In these hard days, she came to take the free meal provided by Huy and his friends. "I am truly grateful to the hearts of those who give food to the poor like us," Hoa said, adding that she currently has no income due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Another benefactor, XQ group, is also giving free meal, face …

/ August 17, 2018

Hepatitis C virus patients fail to access drugs

A doctor examines a hepatitis patient at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry of Health has reported that nearly one million Vietnamese people are infected with the hepatitis C virus ( HCV ). According to recent statistics by the Preventive Medicine Department, 20,000 people die of liver cancer each year in Vietnam, of which untreated hepatitis B and HCV are the leading causes of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Ninety percent of people with HCV are not aware of the infection. It is often called a ‘silent killer’ because it has no obvious symptoms but can be extremely dangerous and, in some cases, life threatening, medical experts said. The ministry said the number of deaths caused by hepatitis B and C was the same as the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Vietnam. There are vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and B, however, there is no vaccine for HCV. There are many new medicines that bring the cure rate up to 95 percent. However, due to high cost, many infected people do not have access to new drugs and have to live with it, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer . Many new drugs which are effective in treating hepatitis C are not covered by health insurance, causing difficulties for patients, said Nguyen Van Kinh, Director of the Central Tropical Hospital. Hepatitis C patients in Vietnam account for about 7 percent of the population but only 0.1 percent (6,000-8,000 patients) of them have access to treatment. “The Ministry of Health allows using new drugs in HCV treatment in Vietnam and the rate of recovery can be up to 90 percent. It also has fewer side effects and the time of treatment and costs are reduced,” Kinh said. At present, the average cost for a stage of treatment was 45 million VND over three months, nearly a third cheaper than that for old medicines, he said. Kinh also suggested the new drugs should be covered by public health insurance so hundreds of thousands …