Author of ‘Woman with a Blue Pencil’ at Vroman’s
Ngh?AnProvincesleadersandmilitaryofficersbroughttherepatriatedremainstotheburialsiteattheceremonyonFriday.—VNA/VNSPhotoTr?nhDuyH?ngNGH?AN—ThecentralprovinceofNgh?AnonFridayheldamemorialandburialservicefortheremainsof87VietnamesevolunteersoldiersandexpertswholaiddowntheirlivesinLaos.TheremainswerefoundintheLaoprovincesofXaysomboun,XiangkhouangandVientianebyarepatriationteamoftheprovincialMilitaryCommandduringthe2023-2024dryseason.AttheceremonyheldatthewarmartyrscemeteryinNghiL?cDistrict,ViceChairmanoftheprovincialPeoplesCommitteeBùi?ìnhLongstressedthatthesearchandrepatriationoffallensoldiersremainsisamajorpolicyoftheVietnamesePartyandtheState,anddemonstratesthetraditionofWhendrinkingwater,rememberitssource.TheVietnameseParty,State,peopleandarmyareproudofthesacrificeofvolunteersoldiersandexperts,whogreatlycontributedtothevictoriesofthetwocountriesrevolutionsaswellastheirgreatfriendshipandspecialsolidarity,hestressed.ArepresentativefromtheworkingdelegationoftheLaoprovincesthankedtheVietnameseParty,Government,armyandpeoplefortheirwholehearted,valuablesupportfortheLaorevolution,andvolunteersoldiersandexpertsfortheirsacrificeforthenationalliberationstruggleofLaos.TheVi?tNam-Laosfriendship,specialsolidarityandcomprehensivecooperationwillgrowfurtherinthetimeahead,hebelieved.Overthepasttime,Ngh?AnhascloselycoordinatedwiththethreeLaolocalitiesinfindingandrepatriatingtheremainsof12,600VietnamesevolunteersoldiersandexpertswhodiedduringwarsinLaos.—VNS
HCMCitysskyline,asviewedfromtheTh?ThiêmurbanareainTh???cCity.HCMCityPeoplesCouncilgatheredonSundaytodiscussacceleratingtheprogressofkeyprojectsinthecity.—VNSPhotoB?XuanHi?pHCMCITY—TheHCMCityPeoplesCouncilconvenedasessiononSundaytoapprovepoliciestocarryoutkeyprojectsmorequicklyanddecideonthecityadministrationspersonnel.Speakingattheopeningsessionofthe15thHCMCityPeoplesCouncil,Nguy?nTh?L?,chairwomanofthePeoplesCouncil,urgedthecityadministrationtoacceleratepublicspendingtospeeduptheprogressofkeyprojectsincludingrailandmetroroutesandthoseunderthetransit-orienteddevelopmentplanningmodel.Shealsoorderedthatthecityimprovepublicservices,streamlineadministrativereform,controlinflationandstabilisethemacro-economyThecityneedstocreateanattractiveworkingenvironmenttomatchitsdiverseculture,heritageconservationandscenicriver,sheadded.Thechairwomancalledonthecitytoovercomechallengestoachieveitsgrowthtargetsfortheyear,putat7.5-8percent.Inresponse,PhanV?nM?i,chairmanofthePeoplesCommittee,saidthecitywouldenforcestrictmeasuresagainstcontractorswhoareunderperformingornon-complianttospeeduptheprojects.Ithasinstructedrelevantagenciestoreducethetimetheytakeforappraisingandapprovinginvestmentprojectsbyatleastathird.IthasalsoestablishedaSteeringCommitteewithspecialisedgroupsandprojectteamstomonitorthequalityandprogressofkeyprojects.ItisvitaltocompletelandacquisitionformajorprojectsnolaterthanJune30toensuretheirprogress,hesaid,urgingcontractorsofmajorprojectstoreportanyproblemsquickly.WhilethecityspentnearlyVN?6trillioninthefirstfourmonths,almostthreetimesoverthesameperiodlastyear,itwasonly7.5percentoftheannualspendingplan,accordingtoM?i.Atthecurrentrate,thecitymustspendatleastVN?10trillioneverymonthuntiltheendoftheyear,hesaid.Thecountryslargestcityhassetagoaltospend95percentoftheallocationofVN?79.2trillion,orVN?11.2trillionmorethanlastyear.MasterplanadjustmentsThemeetingdiscussedadjustmentstothecitysmasterplanby2040,particularlyreviewinglanduseplans,landprices,housingdevelopmentplansandthedevelopmentandmanagementofsocialhousing,upuntil2040.Undertheplan,thecityaimstomakemoreefficientuseofthenaturalconditionsandecosystemstoprotecttheenvironmentandadapttoclimatechange.L?hascalledonthecitytodevelopaframeworktoallocatecapitalandapprovethetotalcostestimate,urgingcollaborationwiththeConstructionMinistryandotherstoadjustthemasterplan.Theprojectwillmeandevelopingacomprehensiveinfrastructureconnectingthecitywithneighbouringprovinces,transformingTh???cCityintoaninnovativecitymodel.ThesessionwillalsodiscusstheimplementationofaNationalAssembly-approvedresolutiontopilotspecialmechanismsandpoliciesforrapidandsustainabledevelopmentinthecity.ItwillalsodeterminepersonnelforthecitysPeoplesCommitteeasrequiredbylaw.Thesessionwillalsoaddressdevelopinghigh-qualityhumanresourcesandpromotingdigitaltransformationfordigitalgovernance,adigitaleconomyandasmartcity.—VNSSpeakersataseminaronreducingdomesticairfarelastFriday.—VNSPhotoB?XuanHi?pB?XuanHi?pHCMCITY—Aviationauthoritieshavepledgedtoresolvethechallengesfacedbyairlines,includingreducingtaxesandfees,followingtherecentpublicoutcrycausedbythesurgeindomesticairfares.SpeakingataseminarlastFridayondecreasingdomesticairfares,??H?ngC?m,deputydirectoroftheCivilAviationAuthorityofVietnam(CAAV),admitteddomesticairfareshaverisenby15-20percentthisyear.Buttheyhavebeenwithinthelimitssetbyauthorities,hesaid.Heblamedthehikesonvariousfactorssuchasrisingfuelprices,exchangeratefluctuations,enginerecalls,aircraftleasecosts,andincreaseddemandforairtravel.Therearepubliccomplaintsaboutfarerisesduetotaxesandfees,butthefinanceministryhasrejectedthem.Airlinesarerequiredtopaymultiplefeesforsecurityscreening,flightoperationservices,takeoffandlanding,andothers.AfterthreeyearsoftheCOVID-19pandemictheycontinuetofacefinancialchallenges,andsoareunabletolowerticketprices,accordingtoairlinesrepresentatives.AVietnamAirlinesaircraftparksatLiênKh??ngAirportintheCentralHighlandsprovinceofLam??ng.—VNSPhotoB?XuanHi?p??ngAnhTu?n,deputygeneraldirectorofVietnamAirlines,said:CarriersonlymakeaslimprofitofUS$1perpassengerundercurrentmarketconditions.Anotherfactorcontributingtothehighairfaresisthesevereshortageofaircraft,reducingthesupplyofseats.Vietnameseairlinesonlyhave160-170operationalaircraft,asignificantdecreasefrom2023,theyadded.VietnamAirlinesandVietjethavegroundedseveralplaneswithengineissues,whileBambooAirwayshasreduceditsfleetfrom30tofive.PacificAirlineshastemporarilyhaltedoperationsafterreturningallitsleasedaircraft.Highfuelpricesandasharpappreciationofthedollararealsoaffectingairlinesoperations.Tr??ngVi?tC??ng,deputygeneraldirectorofBambooAirways,saidtheaviationindustryhadbeenseverelyhitsincethepandemicbrokeoutinearly2020,andstillhadtocarryoutsalarycutsandcontractterminations.Nguy?nQu?cK?,chairmanofVietravelAirlines,saidairlineswerebleedingmoneyonflightoperations,andonlymakingprofitsfromotheractivities.Severalairlinesmanagedtomakeprofitsinthefirstquarter.RecommendationsInordertoaddresstheissues,airlineswanttheGovernmenttoreducefeesrelatedtoflightoperations,takeoffandlanding,andfuelimports,andwaiveovernightlandingfees.??H?ngC?m,deputydirectorofCAAV,saidtheagencywouldconsidera50percentreductioninthesefeesandrevisingfarecapstopromoteaffordableairtravelandpreventmonopolies.Therecentspikeinairfares,particularlyonpopularroutessuchasHàN?i–HCMCityandHàN?i–PhúQu?c,hascausedconcernamongthepublicandimpactedtourism.Severalairlines,includingVietnamAirlinesandVietjetAir,areofferingfreeticketsanddiscountsonpopularroutesfortheendoftheyear.Ascreenshotshowingthereservationinformationforaone-wayticketonlow-costcarrierVietjetAirfromHàN?itoPhúQu?cinSeptember,2024.—VNSPhotoB?XuanHi?pAnalystshoweverexpectfarestorisefurther,notonlyinVi?tNambutalsoglobally,duetofactorssuchashighdemand,fluctuatingfuelpricesandexchangeratevolatility.Theysayairlinesarealsostrivingtorecoverfinanciallyafterexperiencingsignificantlossesduringthepandemic.Localairlinescarried13millionpassengersinthefirstquarteroftheyear,slightlyfewerthaninthesameperiodlastyear.—VNS
OnSundayPrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhregisteredfororganandtissuedonationonSunday.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhonSundaycalledonallVietnameseadults,regardlessofgender,ethnicgroups,religion,orregion,toregisterasanorgandonor.TheorganandtissuedonationcampaignwaslaunchedattheVi?tNam-GermanyHospitalinHàN?ibytheMinistryofHealth,theVietnamRedCrossSocietyandtheOrganandTissueDonationAssociation.Chínhstressedthatdonatingorgansandtissuesisoneofthemostmeaningfulpresentsonecangivetoothers.ThousandsofpeopleinVi?tNamhavereceivedsuccessfulorgantransplantsandtheirliveshavebeensparedbecauseofthegenerosityandsharingofgood-heartedpeople.Hesaidoverthepast30years,theorgantransplantationservicehadmaderemarkableprogressthankstoincentivepoliciesofthePartyandState,workbymedicalstaff,publicsupportand,inparticular,thenoblesacrificesoforgandonors.Sinceperformingthefirstsuccessfulorgantransplantthirtyyearsago,Vi?tNamhadbecomeanexpertintransplantingallkindsoforgansanditrecentlycarriedoutnumerousmulti-organtransplants.ThePMsaidthatthePartyandStatewereparticularlyfocusedonhealthcare,especiallyemergingfieldsusingmoderntechnologysuchasorgandonationandtransplantationandhadputinmanymechanisms,policiesandlawstosupportthiswork.Thisisabrightspot,asourceofpride,atestamenttooutstandingprogress,demonstratingthelevelofexpertise,deeptechnicalexpertiseanddiverseexperienceoforgantransplantspecialists,Vietnameseorgantransplantindustryinthecountryshealthcaresector,hesaid.ChínhsaidMay19–PresidentH?ChíMinhsbirthday–shouldbeadayofgratitudefororganandtissuedonors.ThePrimeMinistercongratulatedandcommendedtheleadersoftheMinistryofHealthaswellasVietnamesehealthcareworkers,particularlytheprofessors,physicians,officialsandmedicalstaffworkinginthefieldoforgantransplantation,whoexhibitastrongsenseofresponsibilityandarecontinuouslypursuingnewresearchtoreachthegoalofcuringdiseasesandsavingpeople.Butheexpressedconcernabouttherestrictedsourcesoforgandonationafterdeath,orbraindeathandthefactthatthedemandfororgantransplantsisstillnotbeingmet.Everyoneshealthisthemostvaluableresourceforboththeindividualandtheentiresociety,hesaid.Heurgedministries,sectorsandlocalitiestostepuptheirworkininformationtechnology,tomakeitquickerandeasierforpeopletoregisterfortissueandorgandonationsothateveryonewhoiseligiblecanbelisted.Headdedthatbecauseorgandonationisentirelyvoluntaryandnotdoneforfinancialgain,allactsofcommercialisation,includingthebuyingandsellingofhumantissuesandorgansmustbeoutlawed.Atthelaunchceremony,PMChínhandleadersoftheGovernmentsagencieswereamongthosewhoregisteredasdonors,addingatotalof3,812peopletotheorgandonordatabank.Vi?tNamwaslatertostartorgantransplantsthanothercountriesinSoutheastAsia,onlybeginning20yearsago,butin2022and2023,Vi?tNamperformedmorethan1,000operationsincludingkidney,liver,heartandlungtransplantsandtoday,itisthecountrywiththehighestnumberoforgantransplantsperyearintheregion.Livingdonorsprovidemorethan94percentoftheorgansusedintransplants.Rightnow,around86,000people—or0.086percentofthepopulation—haveregisteredtodonateorgansaftertheirdeath.Before2023,thecountryhadonlyfivehospitalsthatcarriedoutthediagnosisofbraindeathresuscitationfororgantissuedonation,butnowithasbeenimplementedinninehospitals.TheMinistryofHealthhasbuiltanationwidenetworkofdonorhospitalswith68hospitals.—VNSFirefightersatthesceneextinguishthefire.—Photobaotintuc.vnHàN?I—Afirebrokeoutatafour-storybuildingonLángStreet,??ng?aDistrict,HàN?iCityonFriday,injuringtwopeople.Aneyewitnesssaidthefirestartedonthesecondfloorofthebuildingataround10.20pm.Asflamesspreadquickly,manyresidentsclimbedontotherooftoescape.Firefightersfromthe??ng?asFirePreventionandRescuePoliceDepartmentrushedtothesceneandquicklyextinguishedthefire.Twopeoplewereinjuredandweretakentothehospitalfortreatment.Thefireraisedconcernsamongresidentsasthebuildingisnexttoagasstation.Fortunately,itdidnotspreadtothegasstation.Thecauseofthefireisstillunderinvestigation.—VNSPrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhspeaksattheevent.-VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhhasemphasisedtheneedtodiversifyresourcesforsocialhousingdevelopment,fromtheState,thepublic,societyandfinancialinstitutions,inordertoprovidesupportforbothsellersandbuyers.PMChínhmadethiscallwhilechairingameetingwithministriesandagenciesinHàN?ionMay17todiscusssolutionstosocialhousingdevelopment,aspartofaprojectaimingtoconstructatleast1millionsocialhousingunitsforlow-incomeearnersandindustrialzoneworkersinthe2021-2030period.Heacknowledgedthatkeyhurdlesrelatingtolandallocation,administrativeproceduresandrealestateregulationshavebeenlargelyresolved,sayingthatthelawsonland,housing,realestatebusinessandcreditinstitutionshavebeenissued,andwhatmattersnowishowtoputthemintopractice.Thelocalitieswereurgedtoproactivelyengageinspecificprogrammes,plansandprojectswhileproceduresandconditionsforborrowersseekingsocialhousingmustbesimplified,hesaid.TheleaderalsourgedbuildingandissuingaresolutionallowingtheLandLaw,HousingLawandRealEstateBusinessLawtotakeeffectearlyfromJuly1,2024,andtheearlyenforcementofpreferentialpoliciesforsocialhousingprojects.ThePMassignedspecifictaskstorelevantministries,localauthoritiesandinvestorstoensurethesuccessfulimplementationoftheproject.Currently,Vi?tNamnowhas503underwaysocialhousingprojects,providingatotalof418,200apartments.-VNS
AsocialhousingprojectinIP,YênPhong,thenorthernprovinceofB?cNinh.TheGovernmentonMay17issuedaResolutionapprovingtheproposaltodraftamendmentstotheHousingLawandtheRealEstateBusinessLaw.-VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–TheGovernmentonMay17issuedaResolutionapprovingtheproposaltodraftamendmentstotheHousingLawandtheRealEstateBusinessLaw,specificallyClause1ofArticle197andClause1ofArticle82,respectively.BothlawswereratifiedbytheNationalAssemblyinNovember2023,withtheireffectivedatesetforJanuary1,2025.However,theGovernmentputforthaproposalfortheselawstotakeeffectfromJuly1,2024,sixmonthsearlier.ThisproactivestepaimstopromptlyinstitutionalisethePartysguidelines,aswellastheStatespoliciesandlawsgoverningthedevelopmentandstrictmanagementoftherealestatemarket.Itseekstorefinemechanismsandpoliciestoensurethehealthyandsustainabledevelopmentofthismarket.Furthermore,thisdecisionensuresthattheselawswillcomeintoeffectconcurrentlywiththeLandLaw2024.-VNSBoehringerIngelheimVi?tNamsemployeesattendtheValueThroughInnovationDay,supportingunderprivilegedpeopleandanimalrescueorganisations.—PhotocourtesyofthecompanyHCMCITY—Morethan360BoehringerIngelheimVi?tNamsemployeesvolunteeredtheirtimeacrossHàN?iandHCMCitytosupportunderprivilegedcommunitiesandanimalrescueorganisations,reaffirmingthecompanyslongstandingdedicationtosocialresponsibilityandsustainability.ThesecommunityvolunteeringactivitieswerepartoftheValueThroughInnovationDay(VTIDay),oneofthehighlightsinBoehringerIngelheimsculturalcalendarcelebratedgloballyeveryMaytosupportlessfortunatepeopleandrescueanimals.VTIDaysthemeinspiredemployeestotakeactionsthatdelivervaluethroughinnovation,benefitingpatients,animals,communitiesandtheplanet.Byembracingthistheme,BoehringerIngelheimVietNamcontinuestofulfillitspurposeoftransforminglivesforgenerationstocome.Thisyear,thecompanyconductedaseriesofvolunteeractivitiesatcarecentersfororphans,elderlyanddisabledpeopleaswellasanimalrescuestationsinHàN?iandHCMCity.Duringtheday,BoehringerIngelheimVietnamsemployeesvisited,preparedmeals,engagedinhandicraftwork,helpedcleanupthearea,repaintedwalls,plantedflowers,andsupportedthecareofapproximately1,500childrenandtheelderly,aswellas500dogsandcatsinvariouslocationsinHàN?iandHCMCity.Lastyear,thecompanyapproachedandsupportednearly500peopleinneedand300catsanddogs.Inadditiontocommunityoutreach,BoehringerIngelheimVietnamiscommittedtoleadingthewayinhealthcareinVi?tNam.Thecompanyhasalsopledgedtolong-termco-operationwiththeMinistryofHealthtoaddressunmetmedicalneedsandimprovethequalityoflifeforVietnamesepeople.BoehringerIngelheimalsoremainsdedicatedtoincreasingthenumberofpatientstreatedinstroke-readyhospitalsandoptimisingthequalityofstrokecarethroughtheAngelsInitiative.Inparticular,thecompanyhascollaboratedwithorganisationsliketheWorldStrokeOrganization(WSO),VietnamStrokeAssociation(VNSA),andHCMCStrokeAssociation(HSA),andiscommittedtosavinglivesandimprovingthewell-beingofstrokepatientsinVi?tNam.ThroughtheAngelsInitiative,108stroke-readyhospitalshavebeenestablished,withover53,000strokepatientstreated.Withthegoalofimprovinganimalhealth,thecompanyhasworkedcloselywithveterinarians,petownersandhealthauthoritiestoimplementtheprogramSTOPRabiestopursuearabies-freestatus.Theprogrammefocusesonraisingcommunityawarenessabouttheimportanceofrabiespreventionthroughvaccinationandeducation,bothofwhichareofparamountimportance.OnApril20,BoehringerIngelheimemployeesandsixtyveterinarystudentsfromN?ngLamUniversityassistedwiththerabiesvaccinationcampaignandpromotedpreventionagainstthedisease.Since2021,thisinitiativehassuccessfullyvaccinated26,500dogsandcats.—VNS
Nguy?nMinhQuan,formerdirectorofTh???cHospital,attheHCMCityPeoplesCourtonFriday.VNA/VNSPhotoHCMCITY—TheHCMCityPeoplesCourtonFridayrejectedtheappealoftheformerdirectorofTh???cCityHospital,upholdinghisoriginalsentenceof21yearsforembezzlingVN?102.5billion(US$4million)throughbiddingviolationsandmoneylaundering.DespitemakinganadditionalcompensationofVN?400million($15,600),thecourtupheldtheverdicthandeddownattheendoflastyearforNguy?nMinhQuan,including16yearsforembezzlementandfiveyearsformoneylaundering.Quansactionshadseriouslong-termeffectsandthecompensationamountwasinsufficientcomparedtotheembezzledfunds,accordingtothecourt.However,thecourtacceptedtheappealofNguy?nLanAnh,formervicedirectorofthehospital,andreducedhersentencetothreeyearsfromthreeyearsandsixmonthsforviolatingbiddingregulations,causingseriousconsequences.ThedecisionwasbasedonheradditionalpaymentofVN?394million,whichrectifiedtheconsequencesofheractions.ThecourtfoundQuanhadpressuredsubordinatestoawardcontractstospecificcompanies,personallybenefitingfromtheembezzledamount.Hemanipulatedbidsformedicalequipmenttoinflatepricesandembezzlefunds,usingshellcompaniesandinstructingsubordinatestoengageinfraudulentactivities,accordingtothecourt.Hisaccomplice,Nguy?nV?nL?i,directorofNguy?nTamCompany,receivedatotalof15yearsinprisonforembezzlementandmoneylaundering.Quanswife,Nguy?nTh?Ng?cDi?m,receivedasuspendedsentenceofthreeyearsformoneylaundering.Theremainingfivedefendants,formerofficialsofthehospital,receivedsentencesrangingfrom2.5to3.5yearsforviolationsofbiddinglaws,causingseriousconsequences.QuanandhisaccompliceswerefoundguiltyofviolatingbiddinglawsandcausingsignificantlossestotheStatebudget.QuanhadappointedcompaniesestablishedbyL?itowinbidsandpayinflatedpricesformedicalsuppliesandequipment,withtheexcessfundstransferredtoQuanandhiswifeforpersonaluse.Twoformerofficerswhoacceptedbribesfromthehospitalsformerdirectorweresentencedtosixandnineyears,respectively,atatrialinHàN?iin2022.—VNS
CaoB?-MaiS?nexpresswaycurrentlyhasfourlanes.—VNA/VNSPhotoS?nVanHàN?I—TheCaoB?-MaiS?nsection,oneofthe11componentprojectsoftheeasternNorth-Southexpresswayproject,wasapprovedtoexpandfromfourtosixlanes.This15.2kilometresectionwillrequireatotalinvestmentofVN?1.87trillion(US$73.9million),withVN?1.2trillionallocatedfrom2021to2025andVN?675billionfrom2026to2030.TheexpansionbeginsatthejunctionwiththeC?uGi?-NinhBìnhexpresswayinYYênDistrict,Nam?inhProvince,andendsattheMaiS?n-NationalHighway45sectioninYênM?District,NinhBìnhProvince.Designedforspeedsof100-120kmperhour,theprojectwilladdtwolanestotheexistingroad,increasingthetotalwidthto32.25metreswhilemaintainingthecurrentalignment.Anintelligenttransportationsystemwillbeinstalled,adheringtocurrenttechnicalstandardsandregulations.TheMinistryofTransportsaidthatthisexpansionwillenhancetrafficcapacity,meetincreasingtransportationdemands,reduceaccidents,andsupporttheeconomicandsocialdevelopmentofNam??nhandNinhBìnhprovinces.Italsoalignswiththenationalroadnetworkplanfor2021-2030andthevisionfor2050,supportingthegoalsofeconomicandsocialdevelopment,andensuringnationaldefenceandsecurityintheRedRiverDeltaregion.TheCaoB?-MaiS?nExpresswaywasinitiallybuiltwithfourlanesandopenedtotrafficin2022.InAugust2023,theNinhBìnhProvincesDepartmentofTransportproposedtheexpansionduetofrequentcongestion,particularlyduringholidays.—VNSThesceneoftheaccidentinBátXátDistrict.—VNA/VNSPhotoLàOCAI—Threepeoplehavebeeninjured,oneseriously,afteralorrycarryingfreshfruitsplungedmorethan150feetintoaravineearlyTuesdaymorninginthenorthernmountainousprovinceofLàoCai.Theaccidenthappenedaround2.30amasthelorrywasheadingtoSaPaTown.ThethreeinjuredareL??ngV?nH?ng,34,LòV?nThanh,28;and???ngV?nTh?nh,22.TheyallliveinQu?nhNhaiDistrictinthenorthernmountainousprovinceofS?nLa.Aftertheaccident,thelorrysustainedseveredamage.ColonelPh?mGiaChi?n,chiefoftheTrafficPoliceOfficeundertheLàoCaiProvincesPoliceDepartment,saidthelorryoverturnedandfellintoaravineapproximately50metredeepafterhittingaconcretebridgeinTòngSành1Hamlet,BátXátDistrict.Afterreceivingthereportoftheaccident,thedepartmentsentpolicetodiverttrafficandcoordinatewiththerescueforcestoprovideinitialfirstaidandtransportthevictimstoLàoCaiProvincesGeneralHospitalforemergencytreatment.Authoritiesareinvestigatingthecauseoftheaccident.—VNS
AchickenfarminQu?ngNinhProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—TheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MARD)hasorderedLàoCai,Qu?ngNinhandL?ngS?nprovincestocrackdownonillegallytradinglivestockintoVi?tNam.Accordingtotheofficialdocuments,whichwereapprovedbyDeputyMinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentPhùng??cTi?nonMonday,livestockbreedsandproductsoflowqualityandunknownoriginscontinuedtobesmuggledintoVi?tNaminrecenttimes.Theseviolationshavehadnegativeimpactsonlivestockgrowthanddiseasecontrolinlocalanimalhusbandry.TheMARDorderedtheauthoritiesofLàoCai,Qu?ngNinhandL?ngS?ntoleadtheexecutionofthePrimeMinistersdirectiveinpreventing,detectingandhandlingcasesofsmugglingandillegaltradingoflivestockbreedsandproductsfromunclearsourcesTheyarealsourgedtoincreaseinspectionandcontroltocrackdownonillegaltradeatbordercheckpointsandlandcrossingsandreporttorelevantauthoritiesoncasesthataresubjectedtocriminalproceedingsaccordingtothelaws.Policeforcesarerequiredtoleadthecoordinationwithrelevantdepartmentsbystrengtheningcontrolmeasurestopromptlydetectandhandlesmugglingviolations.AtarecentmeetingonpreventingtheillegaltradeandsmugglingoflivestockatthebeginningofMay,deputyministerTi?nstressedthatthisissuedoesnotonlyaffectthefarmersbutalsotheentireanimalhusbandrysector.Thesectorhaswitnessedseverelossesinrecentyears.Itpainsmetoseesomanybusinesseslosingtheirassets,saidTi?n.Whenwearedeterminedtotakedecisiveactions,farmersandbusinesseswillberejoicedtobeprotectedastheyearntheirlivingthroughhonestwork.Healsorequestedstringentandthoroughhandlingofsmugglingcases.Severaldirectivesanddispatchesonpreventingtheillegaltradeoflivestockacrosstheborders.Asauthoritiescrackdownonsmugglingcases,thepriceoflivestockproducts,particularlypork,hasseenanupwardtrend.—VNSAnoverviewoftheV?nhTuyBridgeinHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhHàN?I—ThePolitburohasapprovedaseriesofproposalsforHàN?ismasterplanthrough2045withavisionto2065thatfocusesondevelopingthecitysnightlifeandtransportinfrastructure.Themasterplanemphasisestheneedtodevelopnightlifehotspotsindifferentneighbourhoods,buildingthecapitalcitysreputationandaffirmingHàN?iscompetitivenesscomparedtootherregionalandinternationaldestinations.ItalsoprioritisesfullyutilisingHàN?ismanylakesandrivers,especiallyWestLake,theRedRiver,the?u?ngRiver,andtheT?L?chRiver,whiledefiningareasthatshouldbesetasideforpreservationfromdevelopmentforfuturegenerations.ThePolitburohighlightedtheneedforHàN?itodevelopareasalongthebanksoftheRedRiver,whichwouldturntheriversideareasintoadevelopmenthubforthecitywithabalanceofecological,cultural,historical,greenandmodernurbanspacesonbothsidesoftheriver.Thiswouldhelpcreateanewlookfortheancient-yet-moderncapital.Accordingtotheproposedplans,theRedRiverdevelopmentareaisexpectedtobecomeanewdevelopmentsymbolofthecity.ThePolitburoalsoaskedthecitytoresearchanddevelopplanstoeffectivelyusethelandfundforsocio-economicdevelopmentalongthebanksofRedand?u?ngrivers,withaparticularfocusonthetourismandservicesectors.Recommendationsincludeallocatingsuitablespacesforthedevelopmentoftheculturalandentertainmentindustriesandturningtourismintoaspearheadeconomicsector,withprioritygiventopreserving,utilisingandpromotingmajorculturalspacessuchastheTh?ngLongImperialCitadelwithinBa?ìnhDistrict,theOldQuarterandLongBiênDistrict,theC?Loareliccomplexand???ngLamancientvillage,aswellasanumberoftraditionalcraftvillages.Atthesametime,itisalsonecessarytoconstructmodern,uniqueandtypicalculturalprojectssymbolisingthecityinthenewera.TransportinfrastructureThePolitburohasalsofundamentallyagreedwiththeHàN?iPartyCommitteesproposedplans,stressingmechanismsandpoliciestodevelopurbanandtransportinfrastructure.Initsconclusion,thePolitburosuggestedthatHàN?ibuildurbandevelopmentprogrammesaccordingtoamodelofcentralurbanareasandsatelliteurbanareas.HàN?ishouldalsostrengthenregionalconnectivity,especiallytrafficandlogisticsconnections,topromotethestrengthsofthecityswaterway,road,aviationandrailwaysystems,graduallynarrowingthegapbetweenHàN?iandotherlocalitiesintheregionandinthewholecountry.ThePolitburoalsoagreedtoadddual-usefunctionstoGiaLamandHòaL?cmilitaryairports.Priorityshouldbegiventodevelopingtheurbanrailwaysystem,promotingprogressininfrastructurewithafocusonbuildingthetransportsystem.HàN?iishopingtocomplete14urbanrailwaylinesandringroads,gatewayintersectionsandabridgesystemacrosstheRedRiverbefore2035toexpanditsspaceforgrowth,enhanceconnectivityandreducetrafficcongestion.Itwillalsolookintofurtherdevelopingtheregionalandinternationaltransportationsystem,includingrailways,waterways,roadsandaviation.Anothertaskforthecapitalcityistoexpandanintegratedpublictransportationsystemthatincludesbicycles,busesandurbanrailwaysaswellasassociatedpoliciesforagreentransportationtransformation.AmendedLawonCapitalToeffectivelycarryoutinvestmentinexpandingurbanandtransportinfrastructure,thePolitburosuggestedthatHàN?ireviewandperfectsolutions,especiallythosecallingforaneffectiveuseofresourcessuchasexpandingurbanareasthroughtheconstructionofringroadsNo.4and5.Thecapitalcityshouldalsotakeadvantageofoverheadandundergroundspace,supportadigitaltransformation,digitiseitsplans,setuplargedatabasesandcreatemoredigitalresources.HàN?iisresponsibleforadvancingitsurbanzonestowardsgreener,smarterandmoremodernmodelsandlinkingthenorthernareawiththewholecountry.Thecitywillalsoanalysethecausesofspecificlimitationsandinadequaciesformoreinnovativethinking.Solutionstoimplementcityplansneedtobeassociatedwithperfectingthelegalsystemandlawenforcementinasynchronous,unifiedandefficientmanner.Prioritywillbeplacedontheinvestmentandfinancesectorsaswellascooperationbetweenthepublicandprivatesectors.TrafficexpertLêTrungHi?usaid,ThePolitburosConclusionNo.80isaveryimportantdocument,creatingapremiseandbasisforHàN?itoadjustitstwomajorplanningprojects.Inparticular,withtherevisedLawonCapital,thecitywillhaveenoughconditionstoresolvelong-standingproblemsandtakeverylongstepstowardthegoalofurbanreconstructionwithamoderntransportationsystem.—VNS
AnofficeinformationtechnologyclassattheVocationalEducationCentreaspartoftheHàN?iBlindAssociation.—PhotocourtesyofthecentreHàN?I—ManyblindpeopleinHàN?iaretryingtoovercomedifficultiestomastertheirlivesandintegrateintosocietybystudyingandworking.OneplacethattheytrusttofindthevocationaltrainingtheyneedtostartacareeristheVocationalEducationCentre(VEC),workingundertheHàN?iBlindAssociation.SuccessFormanyyears,ahealthcarecentrefortheblind,ánhD??ng(Sunshine),locatedatNo18,Alley20,LongBiên2Street,Ng?cLamWardinLongBiênDistricthasbeenknownandtrustedbymanypeople.Eachmonththecentreearnstensofmillionsof??ng(VN?10millionequalsUS$390),creatingjobsfortheblindworkerswhoearnasalaryofaroundVN?3-4million($118-158)perpersonpermonth.Itsadreamincomefordisabledworkers,butthecentreownerL??ngTh?H?iY?n,whoisalsoblind,stillwishedtohaveabetterincomeandsoin2019,Y?nstartedworkingasanonlineseller.Beingeagertolearn,sheparticipatedintwosalesskillstrainingcoursesorganisedbytheVEC.Sincethen,herworktookoffandherincomeincreasedtoaboutVN?6-8million($236-315)permonth.AlsostudyingattheVECandusingtheknowledgehegainedtosearchforjobs,Nguy?n??ng??cbecameowneroftheTam??chealthcarecentreatNo205T?Hi?uStreetinHà??ngDistrict.Currently,??cscentrehasastablenumberofcustomers,providingworkandregularincomeforhimandmorethantenotherblindpeople.Thankstohishighprofessionalskillsandresilience,??cwasinvitedtobealecturerformassagetrainingattheVEC.InadditiontoY?nand??c,thousandsofblindpeoplehavebeenequippedwithvocationalskillsthroughdifferentcoursesattheVECandafterthoseprogrammes,morethan80percentofthetraineeshavesecuredjobsandaregularincome.DeputyDirectoroftheVECNguy?nTrungTháisaidthatinadditiontovocationaltraining,theVECencouragesstudentstointegrateintothewidersocietyandotherindustries.Lastyearalone,theVECopened17vocationaltrainingclasses,attractingnearly400studentswhohavegoneontoworkinavarietyofemployment,fromworkinginITtorunningon-linesales.However,saidThái,vocationaltrainingforthoseworkerswithimpairedvision,facedmanydifficultiesandchallenges.Thebiggestoneisthatcurrentfundingfortheworkdependsonsponsors,whilefindingsponsorresourcesisnoteasy.Proactivelyovercomingobstacles,theVEChascalledforcooperationbetweendomestic,internationalorganisationsandindividualstosupportthosestudentswithdisabilities.TheVECalsoassignsofficialsandteacherstodistrictstosupportthemopenvocationaltrainingclasseslocally,sostudentsdonothavetotravelfarandcansavecosts.AnothersolutionisassigningstafffromdistrictstoreceiveadvancedcoachingattheVEC,thenreturntopassonwhattheyhavelearnedatthegrassrootslevel.AtypicalexampleistheDeputyChairmanoftheThanhTrìDistrictBlindAssociationLêT?L?p,whograduatedfromanadvancedtechnologycourseatthestartofthisyear.Hesaid:IwillsoonbecomeateacherofabasicvocationalinformationtechnologyclassfortheblindinThanhTrìDistrict.DeputyDirectorTháisaidthatcreatingconnectionsbetweenworkersandincreasingjobopportunitiesforthemwastheVECsmaingoalandwouldgivetheblindcommunitymoreconfidenceinlife.—VNSPhúQu?cIslandinKiênGiangisseenasahighlypotentialdestinationforinvestment.—VNA/VNSPhotoHCMCity—Southernlocalitieshavemadenumerousstrategiestowardstableandsustainablemarineeconomicdevelopmentmakingthemostoftheiradvantagesinaquaculture,tourism,seaportandoilandgasmining.PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhrecentlyapprovedadecisionontheplanningofKiênGiangProvinceinthe2021-2030period,withavisionto2050,inwhichitstrivestobecomeastrongmarineeconomiccentreinthecountry.AccordingtothevicechairmanoftheprovincialPeoplesCommitteeLêQu?cAnh,theprovince,whichboastsover140islands,andafishingareaofmorethan63,200sq.km,holdsakeypositionforfisheriesintheMekongDeltaandthewholecountry,andhasgreatpotentialtodevelopthemarineeconomy.Withnumeroushigh-valueaquaticspecies,KiênGiangisdeterminedthemarineeconomywillbethemaindevelopmentorientation,withafocusoneffectiveandsustainabledevelopmentofmarineaquacultureinanindustrialandmoderndirection,saidAnh.LikeKiênGiang,thesouthernmostprovinceofCàMauisalsoaimingtobeakeymarineeconomicdevelopmentlocality.LêV?nS?,vicechairmanoftheprovincialPeoplesCommittee,saidthattheprovinceaimstobuildmodernandsmartfisheries,agricultureandforestry,anddevelopproductionlinksfollowingtheorganiceco-agriculturalvaluechain.Attentionwillbepaidtodevelopinghigh-tech,effectiveandsustainablemarinefarming,applyingscience,technologyandinnovationinpost-harvestpreservationanddeepprocessingtoincreasetheaddedvalueofseafood.Inaddition,CàMauhasastrategytoprotectresourcesandtheecologicalenvironment,andfirmlyensurenationaldefence,securityandsovereigntyoverthecountrysseaandislands.Itisalsofocusedonsustainabledevelopmentandmanagementofthemarineeconomyinanintegratedandinterdisciplinarymannerwiththeengagementoftheresidentialandbusinesscommunities.Meanwhile,thesouthernprovinceofBàR?a-V?ngTàuhasformedaseaportsystemclassifiedasaspecialnationalport.ThelocalityboastsCáiMép-Th?V?i,oneofthe20deep-waterportswiththebiggestexploitationpotentialintheworld.Theportiscapableofreceivingshipsofmorethan200,000tonnes,makingitconvenientforBàR?a-V?ngTàutodevelopmaritimetransportintheregioninparticularandVietnameselogisticsingeneral.AccordingtotheprovincialPeoplesCommittee,totakeadvantageofandpromotetheefficiencyoftheseaportsystem,theprovincehasalsoplannedandbuiltasystemofindustrialparkslinkedwithseaports.Ithas15industrialparkswithatotalareaofabout8,510hectares.SecretaryofKiênGiangsPartyCommittee??ThanhBìnhsaidthattheprovincecurrentlyhasfavourablepoliciestodeveloptheprovinceswaters,islandsandcoastalareassoastobecomeakeyeconomiczonewithseaportsofinternationalscaletofacilitatetradewithregionalandinternationalpartners.Atthesametime,itwillapplypreferentialmechanismsandpoliciesrelatedtoforeignanddomesticinvestmentsinPhúQu?c–itsmostfamousisland.Todate,PhúQu?chasattracted286investmentprojectsworthoverVN?375trillion(US$14.7billion)intotal.Ofthem,47havebeenputintooperation,andconstructionisunderwayon78others.—VNS