PoliceapprehendmultipleindividualsinvolvedintheringattherestaurantinHCMCity,.—Photoplo.vnHCMCITY—Thepolicehavearrestedsevenindividuals,includingtheownersofGGRestaurant,foroperatingaprostitutionringthatcateredexclusivelytoforeigncustomers.Investigationsrevealedthattherestaurant,locatedinNguy?nTháiBìnhWard,District1,HCMCity,employedover120femalehostesses,whowereencouragedtoengageinprostitutionforafee.Itsowners,identifiedasVietnamesenationalsHoàngAnhHàoandNg?Th?Ng?cThúy,alongwithKoreannationalsChoKiwanandYuSungho,luredcustomersthroughonlineadvertisementspromisingasafeandfunatmospherewithsexydancingandwillingfemalehostesses.Theyalsoofferedtransportationservicestonearbyhotelsandluxuryapartmentswheretheprostitutiontookplace.Therestaurantstaffwereinstructedtoadmitonlyforeigncustomers(mostlyChineseandSouthKoreans)andchecktheirpassportsuponentry.Thosewithoutpassportswererequiredtohaveaguarantorforentering.Withpromisesofhighpayandcommissions,therestauranthasdrawnmanySouthKoreanmanagersandVietnamesemadamstowork.Securityguardswereconstantlypostedoutsidetherestaurant,taskedwithdispersinganyVietnameseindividualslingeringinthearea.Theyalsofrequentlychangedprostitutionlocationstoevadelawenforcement.TheillicitbusinesshasbeenoperatingsinceMay2024andissaidtohavelinedtheownerspocketswithaboutVN?10billion(US$400,000).Duringapoliceinterrogation,HoàngAnhHào,YuSungho,andNg?Th?Ng?cThúyconfessedtoinstructingstafftoengageinprostitutiontoboostrevenue.Sevenindividuals,includingthefourabovementionedowners,areinpolicecustodyandexpectedtofacechargesofbrokeringprostitution.—VNS

AninternationalseminarheldinHCMCitytodiscusstheroleofVietnamesebusinessmenandintellectualsabroadinthecitysdevelopment.—Photowww.sggp.org.vnHCMCITY—HCMCityplanstobuildadatabaseofoverseasVietnamese(OVs)toconnectthemandpromotetheircontributionstothecitysdevelopment.TheHCMCityCommitteeforOverseasVietnameseAffairshasorganisedthesecondget-together‘OverseasVietnameseMeetingPointof2024withthethemeofeffectivesolutionsforbuildingadatabaseofoverseasVietnameseinthedigitalageandcurrentinternationalintegration.TheeventaimstospreadandpromotethevaluesoftheHCMCityCulturalSpace-OverseasVietnameseMeetingPoint.ItalsoprovidesanopportunityfortheOVscommunityandtheirrelativesinthecitytoconnect,shareinformation,andcollaborateinvariousfields.ThisisanopportunityfortheOVscommunitytoparticipateinresearchandcontributeconstructiveopinionstotheplanforbuildingadatabaseofOV.Theget-togethersparticipantsproposedprioritisingthefocusonOVintellectualsandentrepreneurstoestablishappropriateaccessmechanismstoconnectandattractresourcesand‘softpowerforthecity.V?Th?Hu?nhMai,ChairwomanofHCMCitysCommitteeforOverseasVietnameseAffairs,highlyappreciatedtheopinionsandproposalsoftheparticipatingdelegates.BuildingadatabaseofOVsisessentialinthedigitalageandalignswiththegeneraltrendofdevelopinge-governmentanddigitaltransformation,shesaid.Throughthisdatabase,therightsofOVscanbebetterensured,suchastimelysupportforimmigrationprocedures,repatriation,confirmationofVietnameseorigin,andregularadministrativeproceduresrelatedtoresidency.Thecityhasabout2.8millionoverseasVietnamesein130countriesandterritories.However,regardingthefieldsinwhichOVsoperateandtheiroccupations,thecitydoesnothavedata.BuildinganoverseasVietnamesedatabaseisexpectedtobeadrivingforcetogatherOVsinallcountriesandterritoriessothateachgroupcanpromotetheirroletosupportthecitywhenneeded.—VNSAnofficergivesguidanceaboutworkingabroadforresidentsinSócTr?ngProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nPhiHàN?I—Vi?tNamsentmorethan78,000workersabroadinthefirsthalfofthisyear,fulfilling62.4percentoftheyearlytarget,accordingtotheDepartmentofOverseasLabourundertheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs.Japan,Taiwan(China),andtheRepublicofKorea(RoK)remainedthelargestrecipientsofVietnameseguestworkers.Apartfromthemarkets,VietnameseworkerswerealsosenttoEuropeancountrieslikeGermany,Romania,andHungary,saidPh?mVi?tH??ng,deputyheadofthedepartment.Lastyear,over159,000workerswentabroadforemployment,surpassingtheyearlytargetby33.3percent,andthehighestrecordedoverthepast10years.Forthisyear,theministryaimstosend125,000workersabroad,focusingonkeytraditionalmarketssuchasJapan,Taiwan,andtheRoK.Iteyestohave120,000-143,000peopleworkinginforeigncountrieseveryyear,whosendhometotalremittancesofaroundUS$3.5-4billion.TheGovernmenthasissuedaplantocarryoutadirectiveofthePartyCentralCommitteesSecretariatonenhancingthePartyleadershiponsendingworkersoverseasinthenewsituation.AlongwithbuildingstrategiestosendVietnameselabourerstoforeigncountries,theplanoutlinessolutionstoraisepublicawarenessoflawobservanceaswellascoordinationmechanismstohandlerelevantissues.—VNS

VietnamNewsAgency(VNA)DeputyGeneralDirectorNguy?nTu?nHùng(right)andPresidentofPrensaLatinaLuisEnriqueGonzalezAcosta.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—AdelegationoftheVietnamNewsAgency(VNA)ledbyDeputyGeneralDirectorNguy?nTu?nHùngvisitedCubafromJuly28toAugust3tofurtherenhancethetraditionalfriendshipandcooperationwithlargepressagenciesoftheCaribbeannation.VisitingtheheadquartersandmanyestablishmentsofPrensaLatina(LatinAmericanNewsAgency)inHavana,Hùnghighlightedthetwonewsagenciespracticalcooperationresultsoverthepastmorethan60yearsoftheircountriesclose-knitfraternity.Theyareimplementingthecooperationagreementfor2023-28throughvariousactivities,includingsharingdailynewsindifferentlanguagessuchasEnglish,French,andSpanishandexchanginglanguageeditors.UnitsoftheVNAhavekeptclosecoordinationtosupportthePrensaLatinabureauinHàN?iwhiletheCubansidehasalsostayedreadytoassistVNAcorrespondentsinHavana,hesaid.Hùngexpressedhishopethatthetwosideswillmaintainfruitfulcooperationinallaspects,addingtheVNAisreadytohelpPrensaLatinawithcapacitybuildingtocatchupwiththetrendofmodernjournalism.PresidentofPrensaLatinaLuisEnriqueGonzalezAcostaappreciatedtheVNAsassistance,especiallyamidnumerousdifficultiesfacingCubaandhisagency.HeaffirmedPrensaLatinaviewsthecooperationwiththeVNAasakeyandstrategicpartnership,andthattheVNAsproposals,recommendations,andsupportinthefieldareinvaluableforittosketchoutitsdevelopmentorientationsandmanyimportantprojectsinthefuture.Atthemeeting,thetwosidesdiscussedsomejointprojects,includingthecoverageofthe65thfoundinganniversaryoftheVi?tNam-Cubadiplomaticties(December2,1960-2025).TheyagreedtoincreasethepopularisationofVi?tNam,includingitspeople,cultureandeconomicachievements,bydistributingVi?tNamPictorialacrossLatinAmerica,consideringthisapracticalsteptohelpVi?tNamcomeclosertopeopleonthiscontinent,therebystrengtheningandexpandingtheSoutheastAsiancountrysconnectionswithAmericannations.AtaworkingsessionwiththeboardofdirectorsoftheCubanNewsAgency(ACN),HùngandACNDirectorEddaDizGarcesreviewedtheprogressinbilateralcooperation,reaffirmingthewishtofurtherreinforcetheirtime-testedlinks.TheVNADeputyGeneralDirectorhighlyvaluedtheexchangeofinformation,voicingthereadinesstoassisttheACNinbuildingcapacityanddiversifyingformsofnews.Forherpart,thehostofficialthankedtheVNAforitspracticalsupport,whichhashelpedtheACNtokeepitsflowofnewsuninterrupted.Expressingherhopeforstrongerbilateralcollaborationtoupholdthetraditionaltiesbetweenthetwoagenciesaswellasbetweentheircountries,EddaDizGarcesdescribedthebondsbetweentheACNandtheVNAastherelationshipbetweensincerecolleaguesandalsobetweenthosesharingthesameideal.Duringtheworkingtrip,theVNAdelegationalsopaidacourtesycalltoVietnameseAmbassadortoCubaLêQuangLong.—VNA/VNSFloodcausedbyheavyrainsinBìnhGia,L?ngS?nonJuly31.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?IPrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhissuedanofficialdispatchonSunday,demandingproactivemovestoprevent,control,andaddressnaturaldisasterconsequencesinthefuture.Thedispatchnotedthatabnormalandunpredictablenaturaldisastershavecontinuedoccurringsincethestartof2024.Strongheatwaves,drought,andprolongedsaltwaterintrusionintheyearsbeginningwerefollowedbycontinuousheavyrains,landslides,andfloodinginmanyplaces,especiallyinthenorthern,north-central,andCentralHighlandsregions.DespitethePMsdirectionsandministries,sectors,andlocalitiesmovestopreventandrespondtonaturaldisasterstominimisedamage,thecalamitieshavestilltakenaheavytollonpeopleslivesandproperty,infrastructure,alongwitheconomicactivities.DatafromtheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentshowthat104peoplehavediedorwentmissinginnaturaldisasters,mainlylandslidesandfloods,sofarthisyear.TheNationalCentreforHydrometeorologicalForecastingpredictedthattheLaNinaphenomenonislikelytoaffectVi?tNamfromAugustandresultinseverestorms,downpours,flooding,flashfloods,landslides,andreservoirunsafety,posingseriousthreatstoeconomicanddailyactivities,aswellaspeopleslivesandproperty.Facingthatfact,PMChínhdemandedministers,headsofministry-levelagencies,Governmentagencies,andchairpersonsoftheprovincial-levelPeoplesCommitteestokeepauthoritiesataclosewatchondisasterdevelopmentsandcarryoutstrong,timely,andefficientmeasuresfordisasterresponseandaftermathsettlement.Leadersoftheprovincial-leveladministrationswereaskedtostaymoreactiveindirectingandorganisingtheprevention,control,andsettlementofnaturaldisasterconsequencesinlinewiththemottoofon-sitecommand,on-siteforces,on-sitevehiclesandsupplies,andon-sitelogistics,withthemostactive,timely,andresolutespirittoguaranteelifesafetyandminimisepropertylossesforpeopleandtheState.Inthedispatch,theGovernmentleadertoldlocalitiestoquicklyperfectresponseplansforeachtypeofpossiblecalamity,especiallystorms,flooding,landslides,andflashfloods;identifyvulnerableplacestogearupresponseforcesandvehicles;andacceleratepreparationsbeforetheseasonoffloodsandstorms.Inaddition,theywerealsorequestedtoevacuateresidentsandpropertyfromdangerousareas,especiallythosesusceptibletolandslides,flashfloodsandflooding,tosaferplaces,andarrangefundingfromthelocalbudgetfordisasterresponseactivitiestoensurenooneisleftwithoutalivingplace,food,orotheressentialsupplies,preventseriousdiseaseoutbreaksandenvironmentalpollution,andavoidseriousimpactonstudentslearning.Inthedispatch,thePMalsodetailedrequestsfortheministersofnaturalresourcesandenvironment,agricultureandruraldevelopment,industryandtrade,transport,nationaldefence,andpublicsecurity,alongwithmediaagencies.DeputyPMTr?nL?uQuangwasassignedtodirectlygiveorderstoministries,sectors,andlocalitiesinthework.VNSTheelevatedsectionoftheNh?n-HàN?iRailwayStationmetroproject.—VNA/VNSPhotoHuyHùngHàN?I—TheelevatedsectionoftheNh?n-HàN?iUrbanRailwayProjectwillopenforcommercialoperationsonFriday.TheplanreceivedagreementfromtheStateExaminationCouncil(SEC).TheHàN?iMetropolitanRailwayManagementBoard(MRB)saidthatitwasanimportanteventmarkinganewdevelopmentmilestoneinHàN?ispublictransportsystem.Itwillcontributetocelebratethe70thanniversaryoftheLiberationoftheCapital(October10,1954-October10,2024).ThePeoplesCommitteesofB?cT?Liêm,NamT?Liêm,C?uGi?y,Ba?ìnhand??ng?adistrictswillworkwithtrafficpolicetokeepenvironmentalsanitationandensuresecurity,trafficorderandsafety.Themetrolinessuccesswillcreateconfidenceforinvestorsinthepotentialfordevelopingtransportinfrastructure.ItisalsoatestamenttothetirelesseffortsofthemunicipalPartyandgovernmentinbuildingmoderntransportinfrastructure,improvingthepeoplesqualityoflife,accordingtotheMRB.LastFriday,theSECconductedasiteinspectionandevaluatedtheNh?n-HàN?iStationsectionoftheurbanmetrolineproject.Theinspectionshowedthattheprojectselevatedsectionmeetsthedesignandrequirements.Completionacceptancewascarriedoutaccordingtoregulations.Thetrialoperationensuredtechnicalconditionsandproceduresrelatedtofireprevention,environmentandsafetywerecarriedoutandapprovedbyStateagencies.Sincetheprojectwasimplemented,theSEChasorganised21inspectionsonquality,constructiondocumentsanditems,ofwhichsixhadbeenconductedsincethebeginningofthisyear.TheSECdeterminedthattheelevatedsectionoftheNh?n-HàN?iStationmetrolineensurednormsforcommercialoperation.Itnotedthatbeforetheprojectisopenforpublicuse,theinvestorneedstorequestcontractorsandrelatedpartiestoreviewallsystemsandauxiliaryequipmentservingoperation.OnbehalfoftheSEC,DeputyMinisterofConstructionBùiXuanD?ng,SECsPermanentDeputyChairmanassignedtheHàN?iPeoplesCommitteetodecidethetimetoputtheprojectintooperation.TheNh?n-HàN?iStationmetrolineis12.5kmlong,ofwhichtheNh?n-C?uGi?yelevatedsectionis8.5kmlongandtheC?uGi?y-HàN?iStationundergroundsectionis4kmlong.TheNh?n-HàN?iRailwayStationlineruns12.5kmfromNh?ninHàN?isNamT?LiêmDistrictviaKimM?StreettotheHàN?iRailwayStationin??ng?aDistrict.Constructionbeganin2010atanestimatedcostofoverVN?34.8trillion(nearlyUS$1.37billion).Whenofficiallyopenforuse,theNh?n-HàN?iRailwayStationsectionwillprovideamodern,safe,fastandenvironmentallyfriendlymeansofpublictransport.Theroutewillhelppeoplesavetimeandtravelcosts,whileconnectingurbanareasandcreatingfavourableconditionsforgreenandsustainablesocio-economicdevelopment.—VNS

Studentsof?oànK?tPrimarySchoolinLongBiênDistrict,HàN?ieatlunch.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?IAnumberoffoodpoisoningcasesreportedrecentlyatschoolsnationwideraisedtheurgentneedtostrengthensupervisiononschoolmeals,aswellashighlightingtheimportanceofcarefullyselectingandmanagingschoolmealproviders.DrTr??ngH?ngS?n,deputysecretarygeneraloftheVietnamMedicalAssociation,directoroftheVi?tNamInstituteofAppliedMedicine,saidschoolmealsareveryimportantforchildrenshealth,especiallyforpreschoolandprimaryschoolchildren.Theirimmunesystemisnotyetcompleteandtheycanbesusceptibletodigestivedisorders.However,wehavenotpaidenoughattentiontoschoolmealsafety.Everyyear,foodpoisoningcasesstilloccurbecausemanystagesinthesupplychaindonotensurefoodhygieneandsafety,hesaid.TheMinistryofEducationandTrainingrecentlyissueddecisionsguidingtheorganisationofschoolmealscombinedwithincreasingphysicalactivityforstudentsatpreschools,primaryandsecondaryschools.Accordingtoparentsandteachers,thequalityofschoolmealshavebeenimproving.Manyschoolshaveestablishedfoodsafetymonitoringteamsandsomeschoolsmanagewhoentersandleavesthekitchenarea.ConcernedaboutthereputationofunitsandbusinessesprovidingschoolsmealsHoàngTh?Xuan,aparentofathirdgraderinC?uGi?yDistrict,HàN?i,saidTheteachermentionsthenamesofmealproviders.However,parentsdonotknowwhatthoseunitsarelikeorwhattheircapabilitiesare.PhùngNg?cLiên,aparentinNamT?LiêmDistrict,HàN?i,saidstudentsmealsarepaidforbytheirparents,butparentsonlyknowthemealprovidersnamethroughthenoticeoftheschool.Theschoolisnotinvolvedinthesupplierselectionprocess.Eveninthefamilysdailymeals,choosingsafe,freshfoodisnoteasy,soprovidingmealsforthousandsofstudentsatschoolisevenmoredifficult.Thisworryisnotjustminebutsharedbymanyotherparents,shetoldVietnamNewsAgency.Inthisnewschoolyear,Iwillpaymoreattentiontomychildrensmealsaswellasthecriteriaforchoosingtheschoolsmealsupplier.Someparentshavegoneasfarastochangeschoolfortheirchildrenbecausetheschoolmealsafetywasnotguaranteed.Nguy?nThuH?ng,amotherinLongBiênDistrict,HàN?i,saidChildrenneedadequate,safeandreasonablenutritiontodevelopbothphysicallyandmentally.Thisyear,IdecidedtochangetheschoolformychildrenbecauseIrealisedthattheirmealsatschoollastyearwerenotsafeenough.Shewishedparentscouldbedirectlyinvolvedintheprocessofselectingfoodsuppliersandcoordinatewiththeschooltocontroltheirchildrensdailymeals.DrHoàngNg?cVinh,formerdirectoroftheDepartmentofProfessionalEducation,MinistryofEducationandTraining,saidtoimprovethequalityofschoolmeals,firstofall,thereneedstobeclosecooperationamongschools,parentsandauthoritiesinselectingandsupervisingmealproviders.Selectioncriterianeedtobeestablishedtransparently,basedontheactualcapacityofthesupplier.Schoolsneedtopubliclydiscloseinformationaboutmealproviders,includingfoodorigin,cookingprocessandcertificationsrelatedtofoodsafety.Parentsneedtohavetherighttoaccessandgetinvolvedinthismonitoringprocess,hesaid.Authoritiesneedtostrengtheninspectionandsupervisionoffoodqualityatcateringunits.Businessesneedtoberesponsibleandcommittedtothequalityofthefoodtheyprovide.Inparticular,thereshouldbestrictsanctionsforviolatingbusinessestoprotectthehealthandrightsofstudents,hesaid.Schoolsoftenchoosemealprovidersbasedoncertaincriteria,sometimesonlycheckingcertificationswhichcanbefake.Thequalityofstudentsmealsdependsgreatlyontheresponsibilityandconscienceofthesuppliersandtheschoolssupervision.Nguy?nVanAnh,amotherinHàN?isBa?ìnhDistrict,saidmembersoftheparentsassociationshouldactasthesupervisortocheckonthequalityofthemeals.Whendeliveringmealstochildren,parentscanevensitandeattogetherwithchildren.VNSDeepfloodsatanewurbanareaafteraheavyrainonJuly24inHà??ngDistrict,makingitdifficultforvehiclestomove.—VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhHàN?I—ManyareasinHàN?iwereininundatedwithextensivefloodingfollowingintenserainfall,arecurringproblemoverpastyearsthathasdisruptedresidentsdailylives.Inanarrowalleysubmergedinwater,HoàngTh?H??ng,fromVi?tH?ngWard,LongBiênDistrict,pulledoutherphonetocallherhusbandforapairofwellies.TheheavyrainonJuly23hadleftheralleyseverelyflooded,withwaterlevelsrisingbetween50and65cminplaces.Thisisntthefirsttimeouralleyhasfloodedsodeeply,H??ngsaid.Thatevening,H??nglefthermotorcycleatafriendshousecloseby,worethewelliesandwadedthroughthewatertoherhome.Thenextmorning,asthewaterhadstillnotreceded,shehadtowadebackouttoretrieveherbiketogotothemarketforgroceries.Onthatday,herchildhadtomissschoolandherhusbandtookadayoffworktolookafterthechildandcleanupthefloodedkitchenarea.Meanwhile,H??ngsneighbour,Ph?mTh?Ng?n,spenttheentirenightawakeduetowaterenteringherhomeonJuly23.At3am,Ifeltwetonmybackandrealisedthatthewaterhadalreadyfloodedtheentirehouse.Thatnight,myhusbandandI,alongwithourthreechildren,tookturnsbailingoutthewater,shesaid.Ng?nsaid,drawingfromexperiencewithpreviousheavyrains,shebuiltasandbagbarrierinfrontofherhousetopreventflooding.However,thedownpouronthenightofJuly23intotheearlyhoursofJuly24causedsomesandbagstoburstandwaterseepedthroughcracksinthewalls,leadingtofloodingthroughoutherhome.Similarly,theheavyrainonJuly23alsodisruptedthelivesofmanyresidentsinAnKhánhurbanarea,Hoài??cDistrict.ThebasementofahouseinAnKhánhurbanareaisfloodedafteraheavyrainonJuly24.—VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhTr?nV?nNguyên,aresidentatalocalapartmentcomplex,likenedhishometoanislandwhenevertherewasheavyrain.NguyênsaidthatontheeveningofJuly23,ittookhimthreehourstotravelfromhisofficeinC?uGi?yDistricttohishomeduetotheheavyrain.Uponreachinghisapartmentcomplex,hefoundtheareaseverelyflooded,forcinghimtoparkhiscarbytheroadsideandwalkaboutakilometretohishome.Thefollowingmorning,hegotupearlytowadetowork,packinganextrasetofclothesinhisbagjustincasehegotwet.TheHàN?isDepartmentofTransportsaidtherewerecurrently30blackspotsinthecitythatfloodwheneveritrainedheavily,leadingtotrafficcongestionandimpactingresidentsdailyactivities.ThespotsincludedNguy?nKhuy?nStreet,HoaB?ngStreet,thePhanB?iChau-LyTh??ngKi?tintersection,MinhKhaiStreet(atthefootofV?nhTuyBridge)andTh?ngLongAvenue.ArepresentativefromHàN?iSewerageandDrainageCompanyLimitedsaidduetotheeffectsoftyphoonPrapiroon,widespreadrainfalloccurredonthenightofJuly23andthemorningofJuly24.Rainfallmeasurementsat6amonJuly24rangedfrom138mmto295.8mm.Theextensiveandprolongedheavyrainfallhadcausedwaterlevelsinriversandlakestorise,leadingtonumerousfloodpointsinLongBiên,C?uGi?y,TayH?,ThanhXuan,andHà??ngdistricts.Notably,onTh?ngLongAvenue,underpasseswereseverelyflooded,submergingmanymotorcyclesandmakingtraveldifficult.CausesTherepresentativesaidtheprolongedfloodinginTh?ngLongAvenuewasduetotheareasbeinglowerlyingcomparedtotheirsurroundings.Consequently,duringheavyrains,waterflowedrapidlytowardstheselowareas,causinglocalisedflooding.?àoNg?cNghiêm,vicepresidentoftheVi?tNamUrbanDevelopmentandPlanningAssociationtalkedtoLao??ng(Labour)onlinenewspaper,explainingthatthefloodingwasbecausethewaterdrainagesystemintheareawasnotconnectedtothemaindrainagechannels.Additionally,themaindrainagesystemsoutsidetheurbanareaslackedpumpingstations,resultingininsufficientdrainagecapacityduringheavyrains.Nghiêmsaidaccordingtoglobalbestpracticesinfloodprevention,aboutthreetofivepercentoflandshouldbeusedaswaterretentionlakes.However,HàN?icurrentlyonlyhadaroundtwopercentoflandusedasreservoirs.Althoughthecityhadnumerousdrainagechannels,manyofthemwereblockedorwerenotusedeffectively.Thecitywasnowdividedintothreedrainagezones,consistingofthenorthofthecityandtheleftandrightbanksofthe?áyRiver.However,localpumpingstationstotransferwatertomainstationshadnotbeenfullyestablished.Manypumpingstationswerestillinadequateoryettobebuilt,hesaid.SolutionsTherefore,Nghiêmrecommendedthatexistingdrainageprojectsbereviewedandadjusted.Additionally,regularmaintenanceofsewers,channelsandditcheswascrucial,alongwithcomprehensiveresearchintotheriversystemsflowingthroughthecity.Tofixthesituation,thecityisimplementingseveralprojects,suchasupgradingthePh??ngTr?chPumpStationin??ngAnhDistrictandimprovingthedrainagesystemintheYênNgh?aPumpStationinHà??ngDistrict.Moreover,numerousprojectsareintheplanningstages,includingtheleftbankoftheNhu?Riverdrainagesystem,theHà??ngDistrictdrainagesystemontherightbankoftheNhu?River,theGiaTh??ngpumpingstation,theC?Kh?iwaterretentionlakeandTh??ngThanhdrainagechannelinLongBiênDistrict.Tr?nhNg?cS?n,deputygeneraldirectorofHàN?iSewerageandDrainageCompanyLimitedsaidinthelongterm,thecityneededtoinvestindrainageinfrastructureaccordingtotheurbanplanningframework,includingnewpumpingstationssuchasNamTh?ngLongandBaX?aswellaswaterretentionlakeslikeC?Nhu?1,C?Nhu?2andPhú??tomitigatefloodinginthearea.Inparticular,forTh?ngLongAvenue,thecompanysuggestedconstructingtemporarypumpingstationssuchas?ìaSáotolowerwaterlevelsinlocalchannelsand??ngTéptopumpwaterfromthe??ngTépandTrungTh??ngchannelsbefore,duringandafterheavyrains,toreducetheextentanddurationofflooding.Additionally,relevantagencieshadtoconstructdrainageinfrastructureasplanned,suchaspumpingstationsofLiênM?c,LiênTrung,YênThái,?àoNguyênandCaoViên,alongwith531haofwaterretentionlakesanddevelopingadrainagesystemalongtheavenuetochannelwatertothe?áyRiverthroughthe?àoNguyênpumpstation.—VNS

AlocalrestaurantindowntownHCMCity.TravelLeisurehaslistedHàN?iandHCMCityastwoofAsiastoptencitiesforlowtravelcosts,particularlyforaccommodationandfood.—VNSPhotoB?XuanHi?pHCMCITY—HàN?iandHCMCity,twomajorcitiesinVi?tNam,havebeennamedamongAsiastoptencitieswiththelowesttravelcosts,accordingtoTravelLeisure.TheUS-basedtravelmagazinehaspublishedalistofthetencitiesinAsiawiththelowesttravelcostswithHCMCityinsouthernVi?tNamrankingsecondwithanaveragetripcostofUS$1,452.HàN?i,thecapitalcityinnorthernVi?tNam,ranksninth,withanaveragetripcostofaround$1,546.EthanCrowley,atripplannerfromthetravelfirmAsiaDesk,saidVi?tNamhasearnedacclaimasthemostcost-effectivedestinationinSoutheastAsia,highlightingtheaffordabilityoffoodandlodging.TheSoutheastAsiannationcouldbethelowest-costcountryfortravelersintheregion,henoted.DespiteinitialperceptionsofhightravelexpensestoAsia,flightsarecurrentlyninepercentcheaperthanlastyear,accordingtoKayak.CrowleynotedtheconvenienceofdirectflightsfromtheUSandthevalueofbothbusinessandeconomyclassoptionsinVi?tNam.ThelistofthetenmostaffordableAsiancitieswascompiledusingdatafromKayak,ametasearchenginefortravelservices,includingairlineflights,hotels,rentalcars,andvacationpackages.Therankingisbasedonaverageround-tripeconomyairfareandstandarddoubleroompricesfromJunetoDecember.TaipeihasbeennamedthemostaffordablecityinAsia.Japanisrepresentedbytwocitiesonthislist:TokyoandOsaka.OthercitiesincludedinthelistareJakarta,NewDelhi,Bangkok,Manila,andKualaLumpur.—VNS

AtrafficpoliceofficerchecksthealcoholconcentrationlevelofadriverinPhanThi?tCityinthesouthernprovinceofBìnhThu?n.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–TheMinistryofPublicSecurityhasproposedasignificantreductioninfinesfordriverswithalcoholconcentrationlevelsthatdonotexceed50mgin100mlofbloodor0.25mginonelitreofbreath.Specifically,theministrysuggestedimposingfinesrangingfromVN?800,000toVN?1million(US$39.6)fordriverswithalcoholconcentrationlevelbeloworequalto50mgin100mlofbloodor0.25mgin1litreofbreath.Thecurrentregulations,underDecree100/2019/N?-CPwhichtookeffectonJanuary1,2020,stipulatedthefinerangingfromVN?6-8million($237-317).Theministrysaidthatreducingthefinesstipulatedinthedecreeforalcoholconcentrationlevelstobetteralignwiththenatureandseverityoftheviolation.Itiscurrentlyseekingfeedbackonthechanges.Forviolationswherealcohollevelsinthebloodorbreathexceed50milligramsto80milligramsper100millilitresofblood,or0.25milligramsto0.4milligramsperlitreofbreath,theministryproposedmaintainingthecurrentfineofVN?16-18million($634-713).Thefineforalcohollevelsexceeding80milligramsper100millilitresofbloodor0.4milligramsperlitreofbreathremainsatVN?30-40million($1,189-1,586).Theministryalsoproposedfinesfordrunkmotorbikeriders.FinesrangingfromVN?400,000toVN?600,000willbeappliedforriderswithalcohollevelsintheirbloodorbreathnotexceeding50mgin100mlofbloodor0.25mgin1litreofbreath.Currently,thefineforsuchviolationsrangesfromVN?2milliontoVN?3million.TheministryalsosuggestedfinesbetweenVN?800,000andVN?1millionforoperatorsofspecialisedmotorvehicleswithalcohollevelsintheirbloodorbreathnotexceeding50mgin100mlofbloodor0.25mgin1litreofbreath.TheexistingfineforthisoffenseisVN?3milliontoVN?5million.TheRoadTrafficSafetyLaw,recentlyapprovedbytheNationalAssemblyandeffectivefromJanuary1,2025,stipulatesacompletebanonalcoholconsumptionfordriversoperatinganyvehicleonpublicroads.Specifically,itprohibiteddrivingwithanylevelofalcoholinthebloodorbreath.TheMinistryofHealthhasbeenassignedtoregulatethehealthconditionsofdriversandoperatorsofspecialisedmotorvehiclesandtoestablishguidelinesfordeterminingbothbloodalcohollevelsandendogenousalcoholconcentrations.AccordingtotheMinistryofPublicSecurity,aftertrafficpoliceintensifiedcrackdownondriversviolatingalcohollimitsin2023,thenumberoftrafficaccidentsrelatedtoalcoholconsumptiondecreasedby25percent,thenumberofdeathsdecreasedby50percentandthenumberofinjuriesdecreasedby22percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2022.–VNSTheCivilAviationAuthorityofVi?tNam(CAAV)hasacceptedarequestofC?nTh?InternationalAirporttoextenditsoperatinghours,amovedesignedtohelptheairportmeetgrowingdemand.—Photobybaochinhphu.vnC?NTH?—TheCivilAviationAuthorityofVietnam(CAAV)hasacceptedarequestfromC?nTh?InternationalAirporttoextenditsoperatinghours,amovedesignedtohelptheairportmeetgrowingdemand.Operatinghourswillbeextendedbyfourhourseveryday,from5amto11:59pm,effectivefromJuly13toSeptember4.TheCAAVhasalsorequestedtheairportinformrelevantagenciesandunitsoftheairport,aswellasrelatedparties,tocoordinateoperationsandensuresecurity,safety,andefficiency.TheVi?tNamAirTrafficManagementCorporationwillcollaboratewiththeairporttoprovideinformationinaccordancewithregulations.Additionally,theCAAVhasaskedVietnamesecarrierstoincreaseflightstoC?nTh?,especiallyontheHàN?i–C?nTh?route,andtoexpandnewdomesticandinternationalroutestoC?nTh?.TheCAAVwillcontinuetostudypoliciestofacilitateoperationsofVietnameseairlinesandforeignairlinestoC?nTh?.Currently,therearefiveflightroutestoC?nTh?fromHàN?i,Vinh,H?iPhòng,?àN?ng,andC?n??o,withatotalof11-12roundtripseachday.VNS

TheconvictsattheappealtrialonJuly17.—VNA/VNSPhotoPh?mKiênHàN?I—SevenconvictsinthenotoriousVi?táCasewereproposedforsentencereductionsduringanappealtrialonJuly17.PhanQu?cVi?t,Vi?tácompanysformerGeneralDirector,isamongthoseappealingforreducedprisonterms.Hewassentencedto25yearsbehindbarsduringthefirst-instancetrial,forbribingseveralgovernmentofficialstoobtainlicencestosellCOVID-19testingkitsathighpricesduringthepandemic.Duringtheappealtrial,heardbytheCentralMilitaryCourt,theprosecutorarguedthatthepaymentofVN?200million(US$7,890)incompensationfordamagesbyVi?táandhisroleinthefightagainsttheCOVID-19pandemiccouldbeconsideredanextenuatingcircumstanceinhisfavour.Theprosecutor,accordingly,proposedreducinghissentencefrom25yearsto22years.Tr?nhThanhHùng,formerDirectoroftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologyforEconomic-TechnicalSectorsandH?AnhS?n,formerDeputyDirectoroftheMilitaryMedicalAcademysInstituteofBiomedicineandPharmacy,areotherconvictswhohavefiledappealsseekingsentencereductions.HùngandS?nwerefoundguiltyofabusingtheirpowersastheycollaboratedwithVi?ttoenlistVi?táastheAcademysprojectpartner,enablingittosecurelicencesfortestkitmassproduction.TheprosecutorproposedareducedsentenceforHùng,from15yearsto13yearsinprison,onthegroundsofaDeputyMinisterofScienceandTechnologysrequest,hiscompensationfordamagesandhisroleinthefightagainsttheCOVID-19pandemic.Similarly,theprosecutorproposedS?ntobesentencedto10yearsimprisonment,downfromhisoriginal12-yearterm.Anotherconvict,Nguy?nV?nHi?u,formerHeadoftheAcademysEquipmentandSuppliesDivision,wasalsorecommendedforareducedsentence.Hi?uwasconvictedofviolatingbiddingregulationstohelpVi?táwinbids,becomingthetestkidsupplierfortheAcademy.Vi?tpaidHi?umorethanVN?3.5billion(US$138,000)forthehelp.Afterweighingthemitigatingfactors,theprosecutorproposedHi?ubeunderlockandkeyforfiveyears,insteadofsevenyearsasruledinthefirst-instanceverdict.ThreeotherconvictsrecommendedforreducedsentencesareV??ìnhHi?p,Vi?tásformerDeputyGeneralDirector,LêTr??ngMinh,formerHeadoftheAcademysPharmaceuticalChemistryDepartmentandNg?AnhTu?n,formerHeadoftheAcademysFinanceDepartment.Hi?p,convictedofbribinggovernmentofficialstowincontractswithvariousCentresforDiseaseControl,andMinh,accusedofforgingdocumentstohelpVi?táwinthebids,wererecommendedtohavetheirsentencereducedfromsixyearstofouryearsinprison.Tu?n,foundguiltyoftakingVi?tsmoneytoassisthiminhisschemeisappealingforatwo-yearjailtermwiththesentencesuspended.Hewassentencedtofouryearsatthefirst-instancetrial.—VNSHCMCityssmarttrafficmonitoringandoperationcentre.—VNA/VNSPhotoTi?nL?cHCMCITY—HCMCityisimplementingsolutionstoensureinformationsecurity,includingafour-layerprotectionmodel.Lam?ìnhTh?ng,directorofthecitysDepartmentofInformationandCommunications,answeredquestionsfromdelegatesatthe17thsessionofthemunicipalPeoplesCouncilmeetingonMonday,focusingonthecityssocio-economicanddefense-securitysituation.Hesaidthecityiscarryingoutasurveillancesystemopen24hoursadayandsevendaysaweek,andbuildingabackupdatabasecentre.Itsetsatargetofreviewing100percentoftheinformationtechnologyinfrastructureandensuringconnectivityamongthecity,districts,wards,communesandtowns.Thedepartmentiscollaboratingwithrelevantunitstoreviewandidentifytheneedforinvestmentinover3,000devicesforunitsandlocalitiesofVN?150billion(US$5.9million).Regardingslownetworkaccessinlocalitiesaffectingtheinteractionbetweenresidentsandauthorities,thedepartmentgavethreereasons,includingoldanddegradedcomputerinfrastructure;hugedemandfordigitaltransformationandthearisingrequirementstriggeringdifficultiesforplatformmanagement;andsoftwareandplatformsofministriesandagenciesnotinaccordancewiththecity.Regardinginformationsecurityandnetworksecurity,thecityisimplementinganumberofsolutionssuchasplacingalldatainthecitysdatacentre,whichismonitored24hoursadayandsevendaysaweek.Thecityisresearchingandbuildingabackupdatacentreproject.Itisdeployingthefour-layerinformationsecurityprotectionmodelatagenciesandunits,adatabasecentre,ateamofindependentassessmentexpertsandsystem-to-systemconnectionensuredbycentrally-runagencies.Thecityalsohasaninformationsecurityresponsenetworktosupportunitswhenincidentsoccur.Asfordatasharing,thecitysdatabasesystemhasbeenlinkedtoanintegratedandshareddigitaldatabaseplatformsuchasasystemforhandlingadministrativeprocedures,receivingandresolvinginformationviaswitchboard1022,andaunifiedsystemforresolvingcomplaintsanddenunciations.Intheupcomingtime,thecitywillputintooperationsystemsforlandmanagement,constructionlicenses,electronicschoolrecordsandelectronicmedicalrecords.—VNS

BikelaneshavebeenbuiltonpavementsonsomeofHu?smostcongestedstreetstoimprovetrafficsafety.—Phototuoitre.vnTH?ATHIêN-HU?—Hu?CityisthefirstlocalityinVi?tNamtobuildbicyclelanesonpavements,withtheworkbeinginitsfinalstage.Theyspanthecitysmainroadsandrunforovereightkilometres.OncongestedstreetssuchasV?NguyênGiápandT?H?u,twolanesarebeingcreated.BikelaneshavealsobeenbuilteachinthenewAnVanD??ngurbanareaandPhúXuanWard.Thebikelanes,aroundametrewide,ispaintedgreeninthemiddleandyellowintheedges.AbikelaneintheAnVanD??ngurbanarea.—Phototuoitre.vnLêThànhB?c,deputyheadofthebikelaneconstructionmanagement,saidcreatingbikelanesonpavementswouldimprovetrafficsafety.Butsomelocalsareunhappywiththenewplan.N.T.H.toldTu?iTr?(Youth)newspaperitisnotsafeforpedestriansandcycliststosharethepavement.Pavementsareusuallyusedtoparkmotorbikes,meaningthereisalreadylittlespaceforpedestrianstowalksafely,andtherewouldbeevenlessifbikelanesareadded,hesaid.TheworkispartofaVN?1.7trillion(US$66.976million)plantoimprovetrafficinfrastructureandreduceflooding.ItisalsopartoftheSecondaryCitiesDevelopmentProjectII(GreenCities)forthreesmallercities,HàGiang,Hu?andV?nhYên.VNSNguy?nTh?H?ng(secondfromleft),formervicechairwomanofHCMCity,andotherex-officialsattheVietnamRubberGroup,havebeenarrestedfortheirinvolvementinascandalattheVietnamRubberGroup.—PhotocourtesyofthepoliceHCMCITY—TheformerViceChairwomanofHCMCityPeoplesCommitteeNguy?nTh?H?nghasbeenarrestedforallegedabuseofpowerduringherofficialduties,thepolicesaidonWednesday.ThearrestispartofanongoinginvestigationintoaccusationsofbriberyandpowerabuseattheState-ownedVi?tNamRubberGroup(VRG),andotherrelatedentities.H?ngisalsofacingallegationsofmisconductregardingapropertydevelopmentprojectinHCMCitysDistrict4.H?ng,69,previouslyheldthepositionofdirectorofthecitysDepartmentofFinanceandlaterservedasdeputychairwomanin2005beforeretiringafteradecadeinoffice.Currently,atotalof16individualsimplicatedinthecasehavebeenprosecuted,includingvariousex-officialsatthegroup,foracceptingbribesandbreachingregulationsonthemanagementofStateassets,resultinginlossandinefficiency.TheseactionshavebeensanctionedbytheSupremePeoplesProcuracy.Theinvestigationintothescandalremainsongoing.—VNS