Health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City will launch a trial of treating people with mild to moderate depression without using medication, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), the municipal Department of Health has announced. The WHO Office in Vietnam has introduced the model of community-based depression treatment without drugs as part of a program that supports the city’s health authorities to implement the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable (WHO PEN) Disease Interventions, Prof. Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, director of the health department, said on Thursday. Accordingly, the health department will pilot this drug-free treatment approach in five health stations within this year, including one in An Thoi Dong Commune of Can Gio District and the four others in Tan Phu Trung Commune of Cu Chi District, Tan Hung Thuan Ward of District 12, Phu Trung Ward of Tan Phu District, and Ward 15 of Tan Binh District. Under the new model, people with mild to moderate … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City to test no-drug approach for depression treatment
Vietnam life 2 waste to energy projects in ho chi minh city at standstill after 4 years
Sewer robots tilt houses in Ho Chi Minh City
Many houses in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City are leaning and have cracks in walls after robotic machines dug a tunnel to empty an underground sewage system in late August. According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s observation, 15 houses located on Street No. 18 in An Khanh Ward are facing a slight tilt. Meanwhile, the surrounding sidewalk is subsiding. Sewer robots operate underground, causing subsidence to many houses in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre Several other houses are also seeing their walls crack two or three meters long, while their gates cannot be closed tightly. Binh, a resident on Street No. 18, said that after discovering some cracks in his house walls, he asked his neighbors about the problem, and knew that they were facing the same issue. “I have lived here for many years. When I found these cracks, I initially thought there was an earthquake that caused the problem,” Binh said. Another local named Dung said that … [Read more...] about Sewer robots tilt houses in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City destroys over 1.6 metric tons of illicit drugs
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday destroyed more than 1.6 metric tons of illegal narcotics seized during the investigations into 147 criminal cases. Of the total, 500 kilograms was crystal meth confiscated during a case related to Liu Ming Yang, a Taiwanese. An additional 100 kilograms of the seized narcotics was associated with a trafficking ring led by local kingpin Vu Hoang Oanh. At 8:00 am, the drugs were loaded onto two special-use vehicles for transport to outlying Binh Chanh District for destruction. The destroyed narcotics were seized over the course of 147 criminal investigations. Photo : Tuyet Mai / Tuoi Tre A council was established to take charge of destroying the drugs. On the council were representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement, the municipal People’s Procuracy, the municipal police, the Department of Health, and the Department of Finance. The council supervised the entire destruction process … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City destroys over 1.6 metric tons of illicit drugs
Vietnam is lacking in green buildings: construction official
Vietnam is home to over 300 green buildings, but that figure is much lower than the country's potential, according to a construction official at the Vietnam Green Building Week 2023. Themed 'Green Building Development Promotes Green Transformation in Construction Industry: Opportunities and Challenges,' the event was held by the Ministry of Construction in coordination with other units on Thursday in Ho Chi Minh City, Speaking at the event, Nguyen Tuong Van, Deputy Minister of Construction, said that state management agencies have encouraged businesses to develop green buildings on a voluntary basis and Vietnam has yet to introduce mandatory regulations on green building development. Currently, the country is home to about 300 green buildings with a combined floor space area of 7.2 million square meters. These green buildings include hotels, shopping malls, workshops, offices, and the headquarters of state agencies. Van revealed that Ho Chi Minh City took the lead in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam is lacking in green buildings: construction official
Apple’s iPhone 15 goes on sale across Vietnam
Apple authorized resellers across Vietnam began iPhone 15 deliveries at 00:00 on Friday. Customers started lining up to get the new iPhone 15 at shops in Ho Chi Minh City at midnight the day before the launch. FPT Shop, a retail chain owned by Vietnamese technology firm FPT, organized an iPhone handover event at three of its stores in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang City. At an FPT Shop outlet on Le Loi Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, its employees were busy handing over the first iPhone 15s to customers from 0:01 on Friday. A representative of FPT Shop, which is the first retailer in Vietnam to directly import Apple’s entire line of products, said that the chain had received over 30,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 15. The retailer handed over more than 5,000 iPhone 15s in its first few minutes of sales. Similarly, customers, mainly young people, began picking up iPhone 15s at mobile retailer The Gioi Di Dong’s TopZone store on Khanh Hoi Street in District 4, Ho … [Read more...] about Apple’s iPhone 15 goes on sale across Vietnam
2 Vietnamese, 1 Cambodian condemned to death for trafficking drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam
A court in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam on Thursday handed capital punishment to two Vietnamese and one Cambodian for trafficking nearly 32 kilograms of drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam. In particular, the court gave the death sentence to Nguyen Ngoc Hai, 29, and Dang Ngoc Quy, 24, residing in Binh Phuoc Province, along with Sbov Proeurn, 36, from Cambodia. Hai also got a life sentence for the illegal possession of drugs and a two-year jail term for the illegal storage of military weapons. In total, he will serve the death sentence. According to the indictment, on March 26 last year, a Cambodian man nicknamed 'Boss' made a phone call to hire Proeurn to transport drugs from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City at a cost of US$200 per kilogram. Proeurn later called his friend, Hai, and discussed a transport plan. They agreed that Proeurn would transport the drugs from Cambodia to the Cambodia-Vietnam border and Hai would be responsible for bringing them from the border to Ho … [Read more...] about 2 Vietnamese, 1 Cambodian condemned to death for trafficking drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam
HCM City increasingly appealing to foreign visitors
International tourists are becoming increasingly drawn to Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – International tourists are becoming increasingly drawn to Ho Chi Minh City where they can discover its vibrant blend of cultures through standout tours. Of the total 25 million tourist arrivals that the city hosted during January – August, there are nearly 3 million foreigners, up 105.2% year-on-year. Local tourist sites such as Ben Thanh Market , Sai Gon Central Post Office , and the War Remnants Museum have been favoured among the visitors. Zuzanna Henel and Klaudia Witkowska from Poland said they are impressed by the “Biet dong Sai Gon” (Sai Gon Special Task Force) tour developed by Vietluxtour, during which they got a better understanding of Vietnam’s war time as well as stories about Sai Gon heroes. Visiting HCM City for the fourth time in ten years, Allan Andersen from Demark said he wants to enjoy walks along the streets as well as local foods such as … [Read more...] about HCM City increasingly appealing to foreign visitors
BASF Vietnam rebuilds seventh school
The newly re-built school, with a total area of more than 300 square metres, comprises two classrooms and a playground and aims to improve the academic environment for both teachers and students. The initiative is being carried out with the support of the Saigon Children’s Charity CIO as part of its school building programme, which pledges to benefit around 100 students annually. According to Erick Contreras, managing director of BASF Vietnam, the scheme is aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal of extending quality education to the community. “Providing and enabling the younger generation with a safe and conducive learning environment is a top priority for us. It’s a rewarding journey, particularly when we progress hand-in-hand with our valued partners to nurture Vietnam's emerging talent,” said Contreras. The O Trao site of the school, established in 2009, was the focus of this project due to its deteriorating state. The site is home … [Read more...] about BASF Vietnam rebuilds seventh school
Vietnam’s tech startups secure $50 million in funding in Q3
Despite this substantial growth, funding was down by 40 per cent when compared with the third quarter of 2022. Breaking down the funding landscape, the early-stage rounds played a dominant role, contributing almost 98 per cent of the total funding for the quarter, amounting to $49 million. However, seed-stage rounds experienced an 87 per cent drop to $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared with the second quarter of 2023, and a 92 per cent drop compared to the third quarter of 2022 amounting to $13.8 million. Key segments that garnered significant funding included fintech, life sciences, and enterprise applications. Fintech emerged as the highest-funded sector, securing $29 million in the third quarter of 2023 and exhibiting a remarkable 180 per cent growth compared with the third quarter of 2022. While Vietnam did not witness any unicorns or IPOs in the given period, the Vietnam startup ecosystem remains promising, driven by government support and a strategic push … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s tech startups secure $50 million in funding in Q3
SkyX Solar steers sustainable shifts with green IZ and certification in Vietnam
An example of a SkyX Solar collaboration with An Phat At a seminar from September 12 to 17, held by the World Sports Goods Industry Federation and the Vietnamese Delegation in Geneva, distinguished brands like Adidas and Decathlon spotlighted Vietnam's crucial role in sustainable manufacturing, praising its robust workforce and rapid assimilation of advanced technologies. Leveraging its National Strategy for Green Growth 2021-2030, Vietnam is making substantial strides towards its sustainable development goals, with an emphasis on evolving its textile and footwear industries by 2035 to align with a circular economic model. This commitment resonates deeply with international sustainability standards, enhancing Vietnam's influence in the sustainable supply chain sector. The role of green certificates – which are emblematic of sustainable and responsible production and the use of renewable energy – is becoming increasingly crucial in today’s market. These certificates are … [Read more...] about SkyX Solar steers sustainable shifts with green IZ and certification in Vietnam