The ivory, which was mixed in together with a batch of cow horn, was imported from Nigeria to Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong. Nguyen Huu Dung, a customs official in Hai Phong, said when screening the cow horn, customs officers had detected abnormal signs. As a result, they used specialized tools to check the shipment more carefully and found the hidden ivory. Major General Vu Trung Kien, deputy commander of Vietnam’s Coast Guard, said signs of a ring trading and smuggling ivory from Nigeria to Vietnam had emerged since mid-October last year and the Coast Guard tightened inspections since then. The Coast Guard and police are investigating the ring further. Vietnam outlawed the ivory trade in 1992, but the country remains a top market for the product, which is prized for decorative and medicinal purposes, according to conservation groups. Vietnam is among the top 10 countries and territories in terms of wildlife trafficking, according to a December 2017 study by wildlife trade … [Read more...] about Coast Guard seizes 500kg of ivory smuggled into Vietnam from Nigeria
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With Zenly gone, new location-tracking apps watch Vietnam
Bao Ngoc, a 21-year-old student in Hanoi, said he and his group of 20 friends had been loyal Zenly users for 3 years. But the 10-year-old app, which is owned by Snap, officially shut down on February 2. "The end of the app made our group disheartened, so we wanted to find a similar app to replace it," Ngoc said. Potential candidates include Whoo, BFF or iSharing, Ngoc said. Each of them have different functionalities, but all are similar to the now-defunct Zenly. However, the most popular location-tracking app in Vietnam at the moment is Whoo. Data from Google Trends revealed that the number of searches for the keyword "Whoo" has tripled since the end of January. Over the past week, Whoo has also ranked among the most downloaded apps on the App Store and Play Store. Whoo, developed by Japanese firm LinQ, was released on iOS in December last year, and then on Android in January. The app garnered over 100,000 downloads on the Play Store in just 10 days. Its interface and … [Read more...] about With Zenly gone, new location-tracking apps watch Vietnam
Administrative reform must centre on people, enterprises: PM
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the third session of the Government’s Steering Committee for Administrative Reform. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the third session of the Government’s Steering Committee for Administrative Reform on February 3, stressing that administrative reform must centre on people and enterprises . At the meeting, connected with 63 provinces and centrally-run cities via videoconference, participants reviewed the obtained results, pointed out shortcomings and difficulties, and proposed focal solutions and tasks for promoting the work. The PM, who is also head of the steering committee, said administrative reform was identified by the Party and State as one of the targeted strategic breakthroughs. It is meant to create favourable conditions for people and enterprises; reduce the time needed for civil servants and public employees to perform duties; help fight corruption and negative phenomena; cut down … [Read more...] about Administrative reform must centre on people, enterprises: PM
Long An province reduces poverty with efficient credit programme
Nguyen Thi Kim Hong in Long An province’s Tan An city feeds her cattle. She received a soft loan from the government to set up her business, and has managed to escape poverty. (Photo: VNA) Long An (VNS/VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Long An has taken effective measures to eradicate poverty. It had only 6,234 poor households, or 1.3% of the total number, as of the middle of last year, according to its Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. A programme that provides soft loans to poor and near-poor people to do some business has been one of the major reasons for the significant and sustainable reduction in poverty. Le Van Chinh in Kien Tuong town’s Thanh Hung commune used to be poor, and received loans on two occasions under the programme and has escaped poverty. He first got 20 million VND (850 USD) to breed chickens in 2016, and repaid the loan in 2019. He then wanted to switch to growing hydroponic vegetables in combination with breeding … [Read more...] about Long An province reduces poverty with efficient credit programme
Right strategy needed for the national database centre: experts
Police in Dong Tam commune conduct fingerprint collection from a local resident to make an identity card (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Local officials and experts discussed the establishment of the national database centre at a conference held in Hanoi on February 3, highlighting that the right approach will make it a driving force for the country’s development. Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc said the centre that was being studied to propose to the Government, would be “centred around people, aiming to serve people, businesses and the Government.” He noted that this centre had been assigned to the Ministry of Public Security which has substantial experience in projects on collecting and developing national data on population as well as identity card and electronic identity verification projects. He stressed that the ministry had a police force at four levels with strict discipline and the capacity to carry out the task that the Government … [Read more...] about Right strategy needed for the national database centre: experts
Gasoline retailers want wholesalers’ monopoly scrapped
In their urgent petition to the Government Office on Friday, the 250, who run nearly 9,000 gas stations across the country, said existing regulations have caused them heavy losses and they are financially exhausted. The petition also calls for amending the formula for calculating the base price of fuels and commissions to ensure fairness and stop retailers from having to sell at a loss or close down and attract sanctions from authorities. " Permitting retailers to buy fuels from only one source will eventually destroy competition in the petroleum businesses," Le Van Bau, director of Le Hong Thu Company, said. Huynh Tran Thanh Phong, director of Huy Phi Long Company, said since September 2021 his company has suffered losses of VND500 million (nearly US$21,200) because of low commissions. It gets VND100-200 ($0.4-0.8 cents) per liter of gasoline but costs are high, he said. "If this situation continues, our company will have to shut down," he said in the petition. Hundreds of … [Read more...] about Gasoline retailers want wholesalers’ monopoly scrapped
Poetry in commotion: Young artists capture Hanoi’s spirit in electronic music
The vibrance of Hanoi culture is inspiring young musicians – locals and expats alike – to take on electronic music as a new medium to search for the ‘soul’ of the city. Ever since he set foot in Hanoi during a short exchange program six years ago, Robin Marty, a French student majoring in marine science, has been captivated by the robust life brimming in every corner of the Vietnamese capital city. “You always see bunches of young girls and boys driving around on their cheap electric bikes gagging and shouting. Most people smile first, then talk," Marty wrote in a release note for his 2021 EP Tra Da (Iced Tea). “And it is not uncommon to see people randomly singing in the street, in a shop, on their balcony. “I feel like that’s something we have forgotten back home [in France]." Limebócx members perform at a music event at Hanoi Rock City in December 2022. Photo : Hanoi Rock City Yet, in the meantime, the allure of modernism is gradually taking over the … [Read more...] about Poetry in commotion: Young artists capture Hanoi’s spirit in electronic music
A seafood restaurant in Hue lagoon that only opens during fair weather
Chuon Lagoon restaurant is a floating bamboo stilt house in the Chuon Lagoon in Phu An Commune, Phu Vang District, about 10 kilometers from Hue city center. This destination is recommended by many locals who enjoy fresh seafood dishes, since it has an amazing view for admiring the scenery and enjoying a peaceful space in the countryside of Hue. You will need to travel by boat to reach the restaurant. A sign board will guide you to the pier at the Chuon Lagoon Market. On this free passenger boat you can enjoy wonderful views of the lagoon and watch the fishermen earning their livelihood. The boat takes about 10 minutes to reach the restaurant. Whether you are a solo diner or you are coming as a group of a few dozen people, you will all be welcomed by the warm and friendly staff. The restaurant is only open in the dry season, from January to August. From September to December, it rains a lot in Thua Thien Hue. Because the restaurant sits in the middle of the … [Read more...] about A seafood restaurant in Hue lagoon that only opens during fair weather