Thefireengulfsthe3000-square-metrefactoryonThursdaynight—VNA/VNSPhotoBùiV?nLanhV?NHPHúC—AlargefireengulfedapackagingfactoryinTr?ngNh?Ward,PhúcYênCity,V?nhPhúcProvinceonThursdaynight.Theflamebrokeoutat9.00pmandquicklytorethroughthe3000HAPPYLUKE-square-metrefactorystockedwithalargequantityofflammablematerials.Thedensesmokeplumewasvisibleevenfromadistanceof40km,causingwidespreadalarmamongresidentsinthesurroundingarea.Tenfireenginesandhundredsoffirefighterswereswiftlydispatchedtothescene.Theintenseheatandthehighlycombustiblematerialsposedsignificantchallengestofirefighting.Despitethearduousconditions,theycontainedthefirebyaround0amonFriday.Nolivelosseswerereported.Thecauseofthefireisunderinvestigation.—VNS

SatellitecitiesandtheareassurroundingHàN?iaremakingprogressinagriculturewhilepreservingandpromotingthevaluesofancientvillages.—PhotocourtesyofHàN?iDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentHàN?I—HàN?iboastsauniqueagriculture,intheheartofthecity,whichrequiressignificanteffortstosustainablydevelopthesectorfollowingmodern,cleanandorganicpractices.Thecitysagriculturalgrowthmustalsobelinkedwiththecirculareconomyandtheprocessingindustryandensuresustainableconnectiontotheglobalvaluechains.AccordingtoNguy?nM?nhQuy?n,vicechairmanofHàN?iPeoplesCommittee,withthecapitalcityscurrentconditions,thefocusliesintheproduceandfarmingmodels,ratherthantheproductionprocess.Thesemustbesuitabletotheecologicalconditions,environmentalprotectionmeasures,aswellasthecapitalcityseconomicscale.Therefore,HàN?iagriculturemustleverageitsintellectualpowerinproduction,hesaid.Whilethescalemightnotbeextensive,thesectormustemployadvancedtechnologyforhighqualityandproductvalue.Inaddition,localfarmingshouldutiliseHàN?isecologicalandculturalstrengthstodevelopauniqueagriculture.Asthecapitalcityandaneconomicandculturalcentreofthecountry,HàN?imustalsoactasafocalpointofthemarketeconomy,atranshipmenthubandanintermediatepointbetweenmunicipalandprovincialeconomiesnationwide,saidQuy?n.DirectorofHàN?iDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentNguy?nXuan??iaddedthatHàN?iaspirestotransformthesuburbanzonesofthecitywithanewapproach,whichemphasisesthetraditionalculturalfoundationandimprovedlivingstandardsintheseareas.Thecitysconceptof‘urbanareaswithinvillages,villageswithinurbanareasisalsoexpectedtocontributetotheformationofagriculturalandsuburbantourismdestinations.HàN?ialsoneedstofocusonplanningfarmingzonesbasedoneconomicandecologicalfunctions,todevelopmodernurbanagriculture,basedonitspeoplesculturalvalues,theRedRiverDeltaagriculturalcivilisationandinalignmentwithinternationalintegrationandglobalconnections,said??i.Accordingly,thecapitalcitymustdevelopspecificmechanismsintheplanningandmanagementofitsagriculturalzones,aswellasagrowthdirectionthatfitseachofitsdevelopmentzones.Specifically,inthehistoricalinner-city,HàN?ishoulddevelopurbanagriculturefollowingthemodelofacirculareconomywithhightechnology,eliteandsmartfarmingpractices,creatinggreenspacesandecologicallandscapes.Meanwhile,inthelargerurbanarea,thegrowthdirectionshouldfollowthemodelof‘citywithincity,whiletheouterzoneswithinfuturecitydistrictsshouldbescaleduptourbanareaswhereagriculturalmodelsalignwitheco-tourism,offeringtouristexperiencesandleisureactivities.Satelliteurbanzonesandadjacentareasshouldbedesignatedforagriculturalproductionandpreservingandpromotingthevaluesofancientvillages,craftvillages,aswellaseducationalandexperientialtourism.KeyagriculturalproductionareasincludethedistrictsofBaVì,PhúcTh?,?ngHòa,M???c,Qu?cOaiandTh?chTh?t,whichwillfocusonlarge-scalecommodityagriculturalproduction,agriculturalwithindustrialcombination,high-techagricultureandscience-technologyapplications,linkedwiththedevelopmentofagriculturalsupplychainsintheRedRiverDelta.Aimingtobeatranshipmentandconnectionhub,HàN?ihasbeenmakinggreatprogressinforminglinksthatallowforsafe,high-qualityfarmproducesupplyforpeople.Thecapitalcitycontinuestomaintainandgrowits159safeagriculturalproductionandconsumptionchains,ofwhich53areforanimalproductsand106areforvegetables.Thesechainshavesuccessfullyengagedmultiplebusinesses,cooperativesandfarmers.HàN?isagriculturalsectoralsocoordinateswith43citiesandprovincesnationwidetoproactivelymanageandsupportthedevelopmentof926safefoodsupplychainsforthecapitalcity.DirectorofBigGreenCoLtdNguy?nTi?nH?ngaddedthathiscompanyhasestablishedvariousstoresinHàN?itointroducefarmproducefromothercitiesandprovinces.WiththeshrinkingfarminglandinHàN?i,agriculturalbusinessesinthecityneedtodevelopmorelinkswithothercitiesandprovincesforasteadysupplyforthepeople.Currently,productsundertheOCOP(OneCommune-OneProduct)Programmeaccountfor60-65percentofBigGreensoffering.Thecompanyalsohas85OCOPproductsalepointsin25townsanddistricts,wherestoremanagerswillprioritisemarketingHàN?isOCOPproducts.Meanwhile,thankstocroprestructuringandfocusingonhigh-qualityseedlings,HàN?ihasdevelopedmultiplehigh-techandcost-effectivemodels.Thecitynowboasts285high-techagriculturalproductionmodels,including185inplantcultivation,45inlivestockfarming,54inaquacultureandonecombiningplantcultivationandlivestockfarming.Severalmodelshaveinvestedinadvancedtechnologyandequipment,whichhasbroughtpositiveeconomicresultsinalignmentwiththecityscircumstances.Alongsidecroprestructuring,HàN?ihasalsobeenworkingonmultiplegreenagriculturalmodelslinkedwitheco-tourism.Todate,58.9percentofthecapitalcityslandisruralandagriculturalareasconnectedwithgreenproductionzones.HàN?ismajorplansinexecutionhaveidentifiedafocusoninvestinganddevelopingecologicalagricultureandmaximisingresourcesfromurbanagriculture.DrTr?n??cViên,chairmanoftheAcademyCouncilattheVietnamNationalUniversityofAgriculture,believesthatHàN?isagriculturalsectorisontherighttrack.Thelocalagricultureshouldleveragethecityshumanresources,intellectualpoweranditspositionasaneconomiccentre,hesaid.Theagriculturaleconomyisnotsimplyaboutproductionbutalsotheefficiencyofproductionmodels,Viênsaid,addingthatHàN?imustbethesupplysourceofhigh-qualityrawmaterialsandinputsaswellasintellectualpowertoothercitiesandprovinces.HàN?ineedstodevelopappropriatelandresourcesalongsideafavourableinfrastructurefortheecologicalenvironmentandtheplannedsatellitecities,allwhileformingspacesforthecitysbufferzoneswherethelocalagriculturalsectorleveragesitsstrengths,hesaid.—VNSAnaircraftseenatTanS?nNh?tInternationalAirportinHCMCity.—VNSPhotoB?XuanHi?pHCMCITY—TanS?nNh?tInternationalAirportinHCMCityisfacingsignificantaviationsafetyconcernsduetoincidentsinvolvingdronesandlasersdirectedataircraftcockpitsduringcriticalflightphases,airportauthoritieswarn.Duringarecentflightsafetyconference,airportofficialsreportedthatover20percentofsafety-relatedincidentsinVi?tNamsbiggestairportinvolvedunmannedaerialvehiclesandlaserilluminations.Theincidentsmostlyhappenedwithinrestrictedairspacewhileaircraftwerepreparingtolandatnighttime,particularlyataltitudesofaround1,300metres.TheNationalCommitteeofCivilAviationSecuritywarnssuchactionscanleadtosevereeyeinjuriesforpilotsandcandistractortemporarilyblindthemduringtakeoffandlanding,posingasignificantrisktoaviationsafety.Pilotsareadvisedtoreporttheseincidentstothecontroltower,whichwillinformlocallawenforcement.Ahotlineforrapidresponsetolaserattacksisrecommended,alongsideraisingpublicawarenessoftheissuetopreventfurtherincidents.Similarconcernshavebeenreportedatotherairports,includingN?iBàiinternationalairportinHàN?i,whereacircuswasrecentlyidentifiedasthesourceoflaserincidents.Currently,individualsresponsibleforsuchactionsmayfacefinesofVN?30milliontoVND40million,andexpertsarecallingforstricterregulationsonlaserdevicesales.Inadditiontolaserthreats,TanS?nNh?tInternationalAirporthasrecordedothersafetyincidents,withnearly56percentinvolvingaircraftoverrunningstoplineswhiletaxiing.Theairportoperatesanaverageof600flightsdailyandservedover20.2millionpassengersinthefirsthalfoftheyear.—VNSHAPPYLUKE

FloodwaterstillinundatesHàN?istreetsatnoononJuly24.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?IPrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhonWednesdayaskedministries,agenciesandlocalitiestofocusonsettlingtheconsequencesofstormPrapiroon–thesecondofitskindduetohitVi?tNamthisyear.Duetotheinfluenceofthestormcirculation,thenorthernregionandthenorthcentralprovincesofThanhHóa(chǎn)andNgh?Anhavesufferedheavytoveryheavyrainsfollowedbyseriousfloodingthathavebeenaffectingproduction,businessandpeopleslives,particularlythoseinHàN?isCh??ngM?DistrictandS?nLaCityinS?nLaProvince.Thestormhasleftatleastfivedead,fourmissingandoneinjured.PMChínhsenthisdeepregardsandcondolencestorelativesofthevictimsandthelocalitiesthathavebeenhithardbythestormandflooding.InhisOfficialDispatchNo72/CD-TTgdatedJuly24,thePMaskedministries,agenciesandlocaltiestotakeprompactionstotackletheconsequencesofthestorm.NowistherainyandfloodseasoninthenorthernregionandtheCentralHighlands.Inthecomingtime,floodsandrainswillcontinuetobecomplicatedandunpredictable,posinghighrisksofmajorfloods,flashfloods,andlandslides,thedocumentwrote.ToquicklyovercometheconsequencesofrainsandfloodscausedbystormPrapiroonandproactivelyrespondtootherfloodsinthecomingtime,thePMrequestedlocalitiestokeepvigilance,continuetocloselymonitornaturaldisasterdevelopments,proactivelydirectanddeployresponsemeasures.Specifically,heaskedS?nLaProvincetotakedrasticsearchandrescueactivitiesandprovidesupportforvictimsfamilies.TheministriesofPublicSecurity,andNationalDefencewereaskedtocoordinatewithS?nLaProvinceandaffectedlocalitiestoconductsearchandrescueoperationsaswellasthesettlementofconsequences.TheMinistryofTransportwasrequestedtocooperatewithrelevantagenciesandlocalitiestoensuresafetransportandhelplocalitiestorepairroutes,particularlyhighwaysandmajorroadsthatareaffectedbylandslides.TheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentandtheMinistryIndustryandTradewereassignedtocoordinatewithlocalitiestodirectthesafeoperationofirrigationandhydroelectricreservoirs,especiallylargereservoirson?àRiver,ensureabsolutesafetyforworks,minimisefloodsfordownstreamareas,andeffectivelyexploitwaterresources.Theministrieswerealsourgedtodirectworktoensuresafetyforagriculturalandindustrialproduction;quicklyrestorethedamagedpowersystem,andensuresafepowersupplyforproductionandpeoplesdailyactivities.TheMinistryofConstructionwasaskedtocoordinatewithlocalitiesthathavebeensufferingfromseriousfloodinurbanareasandlandslidesduringheavyrainsincludingtheprovincesofS?nLa,HàGiang,TháiNguyên,B?cGiangandLam??ng,and?àN?ngCitytoexamineandidentifycausesandresponseplanstominimisedamageandimpactsofthefloodingonproduction,businessandpeopleslives.Meanwhile,theMinistryofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentwasorderedtodirectthehydro-meteorologicalforecastingagencytocontinuecloselymonitoringdevelopmentsoffloodsandnaturaldisastersandpromptlyinformingauthoritiesandpeople.StormPrapiroonmadelandfallinthecoastalnorthernprovinceofQu?ngNinhandH?iPhòngcityonJuly23andweakenedintoatropicaldepressionlaterthesameday.Itisforecasttocontinueinducingprolongeddownpours,causingfloodingandlandslides.VNSThejobofcuttingstrawmushroomoffersstableincomeformanyelderlywomeninHoàBìnhCommuneinV?nhLongProvincesTrà?nDistrict.Theprovincehastakenvariousmeasurestocreatejobsforpeople,especiallythepoor.–VNA/VNSPhotoLêThuyH?ngV?NHLONG–V?nhLongProvincehaseffectivelytakenmeasurestoreducepovertysustainablyandimprovethelivesofpoorpeople.TheC?uLong(Mekong)Deltaprovincehasimplementedmanyprojectstodiversifylivelihoods,supportpeopletoproduceanddobusiness,developvocationaltrainingandcreatejobs,helpingmanypoorhouseholdsescapepoverty.Ithasprovidedsoftloansforpoorhouseholdstoenterbusiness,andtoworkoverseas.Inthepast10years,theVi?tNamBankforSocialPoliciesV?nhLongProvinceBranchhasprovidedsoftloansworthatotalofVN?6.5trillion(US$256million)for260,000householdswhoarepoor,near-poorandsocialpolicybeneficiaries.BùiV?nNghiêm,secretaryoftheprovincePartyCommitteeandchairmanoftheprovincePeoplesCouncil,saidsocialpolicycredithasbecomeanimportantpillarofthenationaltargetprogrammeonsustainablepovertyreduction,andthisisthemostwidelyimplementedpolicytomeetthecapitaldemandsofthepoor.Thispolicyhashelpedreducetheprovincespovertyratefrom5.9percentin2014to0.42percentlastyear,hesaid.Theprovincessocial-politicalorganisationshaveimplementedmanymeasurestohelppoorhouseholds.TheprovincesWomensUnionsatalllevelshavemobilisedresourcesfromprogrammes,projectsandtheirmemberstohelpnearly48,000womendevelopfamilyeconomicsskillslastyear.Theyprovidedvocationalskillsandintroducedjobsformorethan13,000womenlastyear.Nguy?nTh?KimAnh,chairwomanoftheprovincialWomensUnion,saidthatwiththeiractivitiessupportingwomentodevelopfamilyfinances,theprovincesWomensUnionsatalllevelshavejoinedhandswithlocalitiestohelppoorhouseholdsescapepoverty.Therewere226poorwoman-headedhouseholdsintheprovinceescapingpovertylastyear,shesaid.Theprovincehad2,808poorhouseholdsattheendoflastyear.Mostofthemlackbasicsocialserviceindicatorssuchasemployment,healthinsurance,housing,cleanwaterandtoilets.TheprovincewillimplementpovertyreductionmeasuressynchronouslyandassistthepoortoaccessprojectsthatprovidesoftloansfromtheVi?tNamBankforSocialPoliciesforthemtoproduceanddobusiness.Itwillstrengthenadvocacyactivitiestoenhancetheawarenessofthepoorabouttheirrolesandresponsibilities,astheyarebothsubjectsandbeneficiariesofthepovertyreductionprogramme,sothattheywillmakemoreeffortstoescapepovertysustainably.Itwillincreaseco-operationwithcompaniestocreatejobsforpoorandnearpoorpeopletohelpthemimprovetheirlivesandescapepovertysustainably.Inthefirsthalfoftheyear,theprovincecreatedjobsfor14,935people,including850goingtoworkoverseas,whichmeets75percentoftheprovincestargetofcreatingjobsforpeoplethisyear,accordingtoitsPeoplesCommittee.–VNSGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ng,analumnusofHàN?isNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchoolandhisformerteacherLê??cGi?ng,lookbackatphotosfromnearly60yearsago.—VNA/VNSPhotoTríD?ngHàN?I—Inthememoriesofthestaff,teachersandemployeesofNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchoolinHàN?i,PartyGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngisrememberedasahumbleandapproachablefigure.DuringthesorrowfultimefortheentirenationfollowingthepassingofGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ng,thosefortunateenoughtohavemetandinteractedwithhimrecallpreciousmomentswithagreatyetmodestandhumbleleader.Attheschoolgate,theGeneralSecretarygotoutofthecar,andIquicklysteppedforwardtogreethim.Atthattime,theGeneralSecretaryshealthwasnotgood.Itookhishandandwalkedwithhim.Suddenly,theGeneralSecretarytiltedhisheadandsoftlysaidtome,Letswalkhandinhandtogether.Thisisanunforgettablememoryinmylife,recountedLêTrungKiên,PrincipalofNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchoolinLongBiênDistrict.AmodestleaderReflectingonthepast,KiênsharedthatmemoriesofGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngarealwaysinhisheart,especiallyduringtheschools70th-anniversarycelebrationonNovember14,2020.IhadtheopportunitytomeetGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngtoinvitehimtothecelebration.Despitehisbusyschedule,hegavemequitealotoftime.Interestingly,throughoutourconversation,theGeneralSecretaryaddressedmeasteacherandreferredtohimselfasstudent,herecalled.Besidestalkingabouttheschool,healsoaskedifwehadinvitedformerteachersandstudents.WhenIsaidwedid,hewasvisiblyhappy.HisdelicacyandhumilityasthehighestleaderofthePartyandStatearetrHAPPYLUKEulyprecious.Thatyear,theGeneralSecretaryattendedtheanniversarycelebrationasaformerstudent.PartyGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngattendstheopeningceremonyofthe2014-2015schoolyearatHàN?isNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchool.—VNA/VNSPhotoTríD?ngIneveryconversation,GeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngalwaysexpresseddeepgratitudeandrespectfortheteacherswhoeducatedandshapedhischaracter,aswellassharingaclosebondwithNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchool.InthetraditionalroomofNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchool,thereisadisplayfeaturingimagesofthestudent,youngmanandleaderNguy?nPhúTr?ng.Amongthesearephotosofmonitorandyouthunionsecretaryofthe9Band10BclassesNguy?nPhúTr?ngwithhisgentlesmile,aphotoofstudentNguy?nPhúTr?ngwithhisclosefriends,aphotoofNguy?nPhúTr?ngwithhisclassmatesandpicturesoftheGeneralSecretaryvisitingtheschoolandgivinggiftstoNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchoolstudentswhoscoredhighonuniversityentranceexams.Goingthroughtheschoolsoldrecords,PrincipalKiênreadtheteacherscommentsaboutstudentNguy?nPhúTr?ngbeforegraduationwithemotion:RatedA2.Outstandinginallsubjects.Dedicatedtostudying,enthusiasticinlabour,highlyresponsibleintasks,significantlycontributedtothecollective,goodcharacter,goodattitudetowardsteachersandfriends.Hesaid:StoriesofGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngschallengingyouthandhisexcellentacademicachievementsarealwaysrecountedinourspecialsessions,servingasmotivationforbothteachersandstudentstostriveforexcellence.WecansaythattheGeneralSecretaryisthespiritualsupportofourschool.TeacherV?Ng?cHu?nhalsopassionatelyrecountedstoriesoftheintelligent,diligentstudentNguy?nPhúTr?ng.Backthen,Itaught6th-grademath,andTr?ng,alongwithsomeotherstudentsfrom??ngAnh,cametostudy.Theyallcamefromverypoorfamilies,hadtobringrice,staywithlocalfamiliesorteachersandevencollectfirewoodfromtheRedRivertocooktheirmeals.Despitethesehardships,theyallstudiedwell,werewell-behavedandhadastrongwilltosucceed.DuringhissixyearsatNguy?nGiaThi?uHighSchool,GeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngalwaysparticipatedincity-levelacademiccompetitions,particularlyexcellinginliterature.Whenhewasin10thgrade,heimpressedhispeerswithalengthypresentationduringextracurricularactivitiesontheplightoffarmersinNg?T?tT?snoveltitledT?t?èn(Turningofflights),NguyênH?ngsnoveltitledB?V?(Thieves)andtheconditionofwomeninT?H?uspoetry.Eventhen,hefeltthepainofhumansufferingandwasdeeplyconcernedwiththethemesofgoodandevil,lossandpreservation.TeacherPhúcIdidntgettoseeTr?ngonelasttime,saidteacher??ngTh?Phúc,whotaughtGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngin4thgrade,asshesobbeduncontrollably.Attheageof92,Phúcshearinghasdeteriorated,herlegsareweakandhermemoryoftenfails,makingherrepeatherselfattimes.Despitethis,hermemoriesofthespecialstudentNguy?nPhúTr?ngremainvivid.Aboywithaside-sweptfringeandpaleskin,whoworethesamebrownoutfitwithahigh-collaredshirtandtwosidepocketsthroughouttheschoolyear.Tr?ngsfamilylivedin??ngH?i,whilePhúctaughtinMaiLam.Since??ngH?ionlyhad15fourth-gradestudents,theyjoinedthe33studentsinMaiLam.Inaclassof48,Tr?ngstoodoutastheyoungestbutthebeststudent,alwaysparticipatingandcontributingtolessonsTr?ngsfamilywaspoor.Theyatesweetpotatoesandcassavaandwentbarefootallyearround.Hehadonlyonebrownoutfitanddidntevenhaveatornshirttowearunderhisclothesduringthecoldwinter.IlovedTr?ngasifheweremyyoungestbrother,Phúcrecalled.Becausehewasthetopstudent,Tr?ngwaschosentorepresentthestudentsofbothvillagesattheend-of-yearceremony.Watchingthesmallboyinhisusualbrownoutfitandbarefeet,Phúcfeltamixofprideandheartache.After4thgrade,Tr?ngmovedontoNguy?nGiaThi?uSchoolandPhúcrelocatedtoHàN?i.Theylostcontactfromthenon.In2001,afterattendingareunionwithherformerfourth-gradestudentsandlearningthatheronce-littlestudenthadbecomesuccessful,PhúcwasoverjoyedandwroteapoemtitledTheLittleStudentofthePast,dedicatedtoN.P.T.Attwelve,withinnocenthair,Inbrownclothesandbarefeet,Cornandsweetpotatoesyourfare,Theyoungest,butnonecouldcompete.Eagerly,youwouldalwaysspeak,Wheneverthelessonwasclear,Astudent,humbleandunique,Yourpassionevident,sincere.PartyGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngvisitshisteacher,MsPhúc,afteryearsofsearchingduetolostcontact.—PhotocourtesyofMs??ngTh?PhúcFouryearslater,in2005,shehadtheopportunitytoreadthispoematateacherspoetrygathering.Itwasthispoemthathelpedthelittlestudentofthepastfindhisoldteacher.Oneday,IreceivedaphonecallandwasverysurprisedwhenthevoiceontheotherendwasTr?ng,sayinghewouldcometovisit.Atthattime,Tr?ngwastheSecretaryoftheHàN?iPartyCommitteeandverybusy,soIdismissedtheidea,sayingtherewasnoneedtovisit.Butafewdayslater,Tr?ngcame.Uponseeingme,hesaid,IhavebeenlookingforyoufordecadesandnowthatIhavefoundyou,youstillwontletmevisit.Weweresomovedwecouldntspeak.Backthen,myhairwasstillblack,buthishadalreadyturnedgray,Phúcrecounted.AhandwrittenNewYearsletterfromGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngtohisformerteacher.—VNA/VNSPhotoVi?tAnhWithtremblinghands,sheopenedahandwrittenNewYearsletterfromherformerstudent.DespitebeingtheGeneralSecretary–thehighestleaderinthecountryandburdenedwithcountlessresponsibilities–heneverforgothisoldteacherfromtheclassroominMaiLamVillage.Thesimpleletter,withanordinaryenvelope,containednotitlesorhintsofhishighstatus,onlytheheartfeltwishesofstudentNguy?nPhúTr?ngtohisoldteacher:WishingyouandyourfamilygoodhealthandlongevityintheNewYear;mayyourfamilybeprosperous,everythinggoessmoothly,andyouhavemanynewjoys.Iwillalwayscherishthedeep,unfadingmemoriesoftheyearsyoutaughtme.Havingadvancedthroughmanyhighereducationallevelsandheldimportantpositionsinthecapital,theNationalAssembly,thePartyandtheState,studentNguy?nPhúTr?ngbecameagreatleader,readytofacechallenges,bearresponsibilitiesandupholdthePartyspurityandthenationsenduringvalues.At80yearsold,GeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngwasashiningexampleofrevolutionaryethics,asharpandintelligentpoliticianandanoutstandingtheoreticianoftheParty.Hededicatedhislifetotheidealsofnationalindependenceandsocialismandthehappinessofthepeople.TheheartofthetruecommunistNguy?nPhúTr?nghasstoppedbeating,buthisspiritandcharacterwillliveonforever.—VNS

GeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?nganddelegatessingasongaboutPresidentHoChiMinhattheflowerofferingceremonyatthePresidentHoChiMinhMonumentonthegroundsoftheAsianCivilizationsMuseuminSingaporeonSeptember12,2012.—VNA/VNSPhotoSingapore–Simplicity,humility,andstrategicvisionareimpressionsofscholarsinSingaporeofPartyGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngthroughtheirmeetingswiththelateleader.Tr?ngpaidanofficialvisittoSingaporeinSeptember2012,duringwhichhedeliveredaspeechthemedForaSoutheastAsiaofpeace,stability,cooperationanddevelopmentattheLeeKuanYewSchoolofPublicPolicywhichreceivedhighevaluation.AssociateProf.Dr.V?MinhKh??ng,aVietnameselecturerattheschool,saidhewasextremelyimpressedbyhumilityandprofoundnessofthePartychiefwhodeliveredaspeechaffirmingthatVi?tNamalwaystreasuresrelationswithSingaporeandhopestolearnSingaporesexperiencealongthepathtoprosperity.ThelecturersaidthathestillrememberstheimpressiveanswersbythePartychieftoparticipantsquestionsfollowingthespeech.ApaintingthatGeneralSecretaryTr?ngpresentedtotheschoolisbeinghunginasolemnplace,rightnexttothePrincipalsroom,hesaid.Kh??ng,whometthePartychiefmanytimes,saidthathewillneverforgettheeyesofGeneralSecretaryTrongwhenheproposedthatVi?tNammustsetgoalsfor2030–ayearthatmarksthe100thanniversaryofthefoundingoftheCommunistPartyofVi?tNam-and2045-thecentenaryofindependentVi?tNam,tobecomeadevelopedcountryonparwithothercountriesoftheOrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment(OECD).Isawhiseyes,thoseofacomrade,ofafamilymember,andofaveryresponsibleleader,statedKhuong,addingthattheymadethescholarconfidentinthegreatlegacythatthePartychiefleftforthecurrentgenerationofleadersandhisvisiontobringVi?tNamtoprosperityinthenextdecades.KishoreMahbubani,aformerofficialoftheMinistryofForeignAffairsofSingaporewhoservedastheDeanoftheLeeKuanYewSchoolofPublicPolicythenandcurrentlyanhonoraryscholarattheAsianResearchInstituteoftheNationalUniversityofSingapore(NUS),recalledthechancehelistenedtotheVietnamesePartychiefsspeechandhadhisquestionedansweredbytheleader,sayingthathewasgreatlyimpressedbytheconfidenceofGeneralSecretaryTrongwhenheansweredquestionsattheevent.MahbubanisaidhebelievesthatthiswasthereasonwhyGeneralSecretaryTrongwasoneofthemostsuccessfulleadersofVietnam.Vi?tNamsachievementsineconomicdevelopmentinthepast20-30yearsareextremelyspecialtoanystandards.Insomeaspects,meetingtheleaderresponsibleforVi?tNamsremarkabledevelopmentwasawonderfulexperiencefortheschool.Weareextremelyhonouredtowelcomehim,hestated.ShowinghisimpressionatVietnamssuccessundertheleadershipofGeneralSecretaryTrong,MahbubanicommentedthatthestrongestimprintofthelateleaderwashiscarefulthinkingabouthowVi?tNamcansucceedineconomicdevelopment.Inmanyways,oneofthewisestdecisionsthatVi?tNammadeattheendoftheColdWarwastoswitchtoeconomicdevelopmentandseekpartnerstocooperatewith,andoneofVietnamschoicewasSingapore,henoted.TheformerSingaporeanForeignAffairsofficialunderlinedthattherearemanyreasonswhyGeneralSecretaryTrongwasoneofVi?tNamsmostsuccessfulleaders.HeemphasisedthatnoteverycountrywithresourcesisasdevelopedasVi?tNam,clarifyingthatVi?tNamssuccessunderTr?ngsleadershiphasshownthatthecountryhastalentedleaderswhomadewisedecisionstopromoteeconomicdevelopmentandbringaboutmoreprosperouslife.MahbubanialsohighlyevaluatedVi?tNamsexternalpolicyunderGeneralSecretaryTr?ngsleadershipandVi?tNamsabilitytonavigatetheincreasinglycomplexinternationalandregionalgeopoliticalenvironment.Thescholar,whohasresearchedgeopoliticsformorethan50years,heldthatthereareonlyafewcountriesintheworldthathaveawisegeopoliticalstrategy,andVi?tNamisoneofthem.HesaidhebelievesthatalthoughGeneralSecretaryTr?nghaspassedaway,otherleadersofVi?tNamwillensurethatlegaciesandeffortsofthePartyleadercontinue,headingtoagoodgovernance,shapingcorrecteconomicpoliciesandeliminatingcorruption.VNSAnoverviewofthefundlaunchingceremony.—Photovov.vnHàN?I—AnutritionfundwaslaunchedonTuesdaytogivemorethan80,000jarsofwheytochildreninfourCentralHighlandsprovincesincludingGiaLai,??kL?k,??kN?ngandKonTum.ThefundlaunchingceremonywasorganisedinHàN?ibytheVi?tNamChildrensFundundertheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairsanditspartners.Speakingattheceremony,V?Th?ThúyHi?n,DeputyDirectoroftheVi?tNamChildrensFund,saidthatthiswasatrulymeaningfulandnecessaryprogrammeforchildren,especiallythoseintheCentralHighlands.DatafromtheNationalInstituteofNutrition(NIN)showsthat38percentofethnicchildrenunderfiveyearsoldaremalnourishedandstunted,leadingtoaweakstateandconstantillness.ChildrenintheseareasstillfacemanydifficultiesrelatedtonutritionandtheVi?tNamChildrensFundhassurveysfromtheNIN,showingthatchildrenintheprovincesneedmosthelp.Therefore,thefundandsponsorschoosetheCentralHighlandsprovincessothatchildrentherehavemoreopportunitiestoimprovetheirnutritionanddevelop.Huy?nsaidthattheproportionofchildrenintheCentralHighlandsprovinceshavingaccesstomilkorusingdairyproductswasverylow.Withwidespreadpoverty,sometimestheirmealsonlyconsistofriceoronlyricewithvegetables.Suchmealsarecompletelylackinginnutrientsforchildrentofullydevelop.Overmorethan32yearsinoperation,theVi?tNamChildrensFundhascoordinatedwithdifferentunitstojointlycarryoutprogrammestodonatemilktochildrenindisadvantagedareas.Thefundhasimplementedanumberofnutritioncampaigns,suchastheVi?tNamStandTallMilkFundthathasbeenoperatingfor15yearsin63provincesandcitiesandthefreemilksupportprogrammeforprimaryschoolswhichwasimplementednationwideforfiveyears.Inaddition,theHappyNoodlePackageprogrammeprovidednoodlestochildreninsheltersandchildreninpoorareas.Inthefuture,thefundwillcontinueitsmissionofprovidingnutritionalandlearningopportunitiesforchildren,especiallythoseinpoorerremoteregions.Huy?naffirmedthatthefundwouldalsocreateresourcestosupportpoorchildrennationwideanditwillbeaskingindividuals,organisationsandphilanthropiststojoininthesupportwork.—VNS

BoatstakeshelterfromthestormataportinC?T?.—VNA/VNSPhotoBùi??cHi?uHàN?I—Qu?ngNinhprovinceandH?iPhòngcity,thetwonortherncoastallocalitieshitbyStormPrapiroon,arequicklydealingwithitsconsequencesafteritmadelandfallonJuly23.Thestorm,whichweakenedintoatropicaldepressionthesameday,isforecasttocontinueinducingprolongeddownpours,causingfloodingandlandslides.H?LongcityandC?T?IslanddistrictofQu?ngNinhhavebeenhardesthitbyPrapiroon,thesecondtropicalstormintheEastSeasofarthisyear,withseverallandslidesitesspotted,varioustreesuprooted,andcropsdestroyed.FivehouseholdsinH?Longwereevacuatedurgentlywhileabout50roadsidetreesinC?T?pulleddown.Rightafterthestormdowngraded,residentsandcompetentforcesinC?T?joinedhandsinhandlingitsaftermaths.Qu?ngNinhhasaskeditslocalities,especiallymountainousandcoastalareasthathouseminesandprojects,topromptlytakemeasuresagainstpossiblelandslidesandflooding,andpersonneltoworkroundtheclockintheareaspronetosuchdisastersandtoevacuateresidentstheretosafeplaces.TheprovincialDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmenthasmaintaineditsclosecoordinationwithrelevantagenciesinmonitoringthesituationandkeepinglocalitiesandunitsupdatedonweatherdevelopmentstotakeresponsemeasures.Competentforcesintheprovincealsostandreadytoprovideaidwhenneeded,ensuringhumanandpropertysafety.ThestandingofficeofthesteeringcommitteefornaturaldisasterpreventionandsearchandrescueofthenorthernprovinceofB?cGiangalsoreportedthatasof4pmonJuly23,heavyrainshadinundated2,273haofriceand5.5haofothercropsacrossthelocality,causedlandslidesinLucNamdistrict,andfloodedsomestreetsinB?cGiangcity.InthecentralprovinceofThanhHóa(chǎn),thestormalsodamagedmanysectionsofroadsandseveralhousesinM??ngLát,QuanS?n,andQuanHóa(chǎn)districts.—VNS

SeaweedandseagrassecosysteminNúiChúaNationalParksMarineProtectedAreainNinhH?iDistrict,thecoastalsouth-centralprovinceofNinhThu?n.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—ScientistsfromtheInstituteofBiotechnologyunderVi?tNamAcademyofScienceandTechnologyhavesuccessfullydeveloped69extractsfrom11species,belongingtoeightgeneraofseaweedfordietaryuseinAlzheimerstreatment.TheachievementstemsfromtheprojectNeuroprotectiveeffectsagainstAlzheimersdiseasebysomeVietnameseseaweedspecies.Withinthescopeoftheirresearch,seaweedfromtheeightgenera,Ulva,Kappaphycus,Sargassum,Eucheuma,Gracilariopsis,Caulerpa,GracilariaandPalzheimerinawereexamined.Significantly,forthefirsttime,themolecularmechanismsofactionoffucoxanthin(anaturalcompoundderivedfrombrownseaweed)isolatedfromS.oligocystum(awidespreadspeciesinmanyAsianandAmericancoastalregions)andethanolextractsfromSargassumspp.(agenusoffloatingseaweedintheSargassaceaefamily)werestudied.Thecompoundswerefoundtopossessantioxidantproperties,inhibitAChE(acetylcholinesterase)andprotectagainstcellulartoxicityinanAlzheimers-inducedmodelusingH2O2onC6nervecelllines.Professor??ngDi?mH?ng,theprojectleader,saidthattheresearchdemonstratedthatfucoxanthinextractedfromS.oligocystumand96percentethanolextract(withultrasound)fromSargassumspp.aresaferegardingacuteandsub-chronictoxicityandcanimprovecognitivedeclinecausedbyscopolamine(similartodonepezilatadoseof5mg/kgbodyweightinmice)inexperimentalanimalmodels.TheresearchteamhaspublishedtwoscientificpapersininternationalSCI-Eindexedjournals,onepaperinanationaljournal(VAST02),presentedonereportattheISS2023internationalconference,anddeliveredafullpaperatthe2022NationalBiotechnologyConference.TheprojectreceivedexcellentevaluationandclassificationfromtheVi?tNamAcademyofScienceandTechnology.Withthesepromisingresults,H?nghopedthattheresearchprojectcouldcontinueandbetestedtorefinethenatural,nutrient-richhealth-protectiveproducts.TheendeavouraimstocontributeeffectivelytothetreatmentofAlzheimerspatientsandthoseworkingunderstrenuousconditionsinVi?tNaminthenearfuture,shesaid.Vi?tNamhasitsextensivecoastlinespanning3,260kmandabundantbiodiversityinbothmarineandnon-marineresources.AfishermangathersseaweedinthewatersofNh?nH?iCommune,NinhH?iDistrict,thecoastalsouth-centralprovinceofNinhThu?n.—VNA/VNSPhotoNguy?nThànhThecountryhasdocumented878seaweedspecies,consistingof439speciesofredalgae(Rhodophyta),196greenalgae(Chlorophyta),156brownalgae(Ochrophyta-Phaeophyceae),87cyanobacteria(Cyanophyta)and15seagrassspecies.GenerasuchasCaulerpa,Sargassum,Gracilaria,Ulva,KappaphycusandEucheumaareeconomicallyimportantseaweedgenerawithsubstantialnaturalcultivationandextractioncapabilities,yieldinghighoutputs.Theyprovidearichsourceofnaturalingredients,suitableforfooduseandextractionofbiologicallyactivecompounds,includingthosewithneuroprotectiveeffectsandmemoryenhancementforhumans.AlzheimersdiseaseAlzheimersdiseaseisoneofthemostcommoncausesofmemorydeclineintheelderly,typicallyappearingbetweentheagesof50to65.Itischaracterisedbytheprogressivelossofnervecellsandcertainbrainregions.Thediseasetendstoworsenovertime,impactingdailyactivities,memory,languageandcognitivefunctionsofpatients.Accordingtotheacademy,thenumberofAlzheimerspatientsisexpectedtoexceed100millionby2050.Currently,thereisnocompletecureforthedisease,whiletreatmentsmainlyfocusonearlydetectionandprevention.PrescriptiondrugsusedinthetreatmentandmanagementofAlzheimers(suchasrasagline,rivastigmineanddonepezil)areprimarilyrelatedtoinhibitingcholinesteraseandβ-secretase(BACE-1)enzymes,orinhibitingtheN-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)receptorwithmemantine.However,thesedrugscanhavesideeffectssuchasnausea,vomiting,dizziness,livertoxicityandgastrointestinaldisorders.Consequently,apromisingfuturetreatmentdirectionistheuseofnaturalproductsrichinnutrients,withneuroprotectiveactivityandfewerornosideeffectscomparedtosyntheticdrugs.—VNSThecarriagebearingPartyGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngscasketpassesthroughthestreetsofHàN?iasthefuneralprocessionbegins.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–ThousandsofpeoplelinedbothsidesofmanystreetsinHàN?i,bravingthescorchingsun,topaytheirrespectsasthehearsecarryingthecasketofGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngpassedbyonFridayafternoon.FollowingthememorialceremonyforthePartyleaderat1pmintheNationalFuneralHalllocatedatNo5Tr?nThánhT?ngStreet,thecasketwastransportedthroughseveralstreetsbeforetakinghimtohisfinalrestingplaceinMaiD?chCemetery.Manyindividualsgatheredalongtheroad,patientlywaitingthesolemnfuneralprocessiontopassby.Despitetheintenseheatthatcausedsweattodampentheirbacks,thecrowdmaintainedaprofoundsilence,demonstratingtheirutmostrespectfortheGeneralSecretaryoftheCommunistPartyofVi?tNamsCentralCommittee.ThecaskettravelsfromtheNationalFuneralHallthroughfollowingstreetsofTr?nThánhT?ng-LêThánhT?ng-AugustRevolutionSquare-TràngTi?n-HàngKhay-TràngThi-?i?nBiênPh?-Tr?nPhú-KimM?-?àoT?n-Li?uGiai-Nguy?nChíThanh-Tr?nDuyH?ng-Th?ngLongBoulevardRoad-LêQuang??o-Lê??cTh?-andH?TùngM?ubeforereachingthefinaldestinationatMaiD?chCemetery.Earlier,tofacilitatethemovementofGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngscasketthroughvariousstreetsofthecapitaltoMaiD?chCemetery,HàN?ipoliceissuedatrafficdiversionnoticeandprohibitedvehiclesfromenteringcertainareas.ThefuneralprocessionpassesthroughtheTràngTi?nandHàngKhayintersections.VNA/VNSPhotoLocalpeoplestandbytheroad,waitingtoseethefuneralprocessionpassby.VNA/VNSPhotoThefuneralprocessionpassesthroughLêThánhT?ngStreet.VNA/VNSPhotoTheceremonialprocessionofGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngscasketpassedthroughLêThánhT?ngStreet.VNA/VNSPhotoPeoplebidfarewelltoGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngonLêThánhT?ngStreet,HàN?i.VNA/VNSPhotoThousandsofpeopleline?i?nBiênPh?StreettopayrespectstoGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ng.VNA/VNSPhotoPeoplestandbyKimM?StreettopayrespecttothePartyleader.VNA//VNSPhotoPeoplebidfarewelltoGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ngonLêThánhT?ngStreet,HàN?i.VNA/VNSPhotoCitizenspreparedfreshflowerstopaytheirrespectsandbidafinalfarewelltoGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ng.PeoplegatheronTr?nDuyH?ngStreettopaytheirrespecttoPartyGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ng.VNA/VNSPhoto

Thedefendantsinthecase.—PhotocourtesyofMinistryofPublicSecurityHàN?I—TheMinistryofPublicSecurityhaschargedtheformerDeputyMinisterofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment,Nguy?nLinhNg?c,alongwithsixotherofficials,inconnectionwithasignificantcorruptionandmisuseofstateassetscase.ThePoliceDepartmentforCorruption,Economic,andSmugglingCrimesisinvestigatingseverebreachesinvolvingresourceexploitation,accountingirregularities,smugglingandthemismanagementofstateresourcesatTháiD??ngGroupandaffiliatedentities.OnMonday,arrestwarrantsandsearchorderswereissuedforfiveindividualsonchargesof:violatingregulationsonthemanagementanduseofstateassetscausinglossandwaste,accordingtothe2015CriminalCode.TheindividualschargedareNguy?nLinhNg?c,formerdeputyministerofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment,Nguy?nV?nThu?n,formergeneraldirectoroftheVi?tNamInstituteofGeologyandMinerals,HoàngV?nKhoa,formerdirectoroftheMineralDepartment,Vi?tNamInstituteofGeologyandMinerals,H???cH?p,directorandLêC?ngTi?n,deputydirectoroftheDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentinYênBáiProvince.Additionally,arrestwarrants,travelbansandsearchordershavebeenissuedfortwomoresuspects,includingBùi?oànNh?,formerheadoftheMineralDepartment,YênBáiDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentandLêDuyPh??ng,formerseniorspecialist,MineralDepartment,Vi?tNamInstituteofGeologyandMinerals.ThePoliceDepartmentforCorruption,Economic,andSmugglingCrimesisintensifyingitseffortstogatherevidence,expandtheinvestigationandrecovermisappropriatedstateassets.—VNSFloatingcagesforbreedingmarinefishinKiênGiangProvincesKiênH?iDistrict.—VNA/VNSPhotoLêSenKIêNGIANG—KiênGiangProvinceplanstoexpandmarineaquaculturebyusingmodernmethodstoincreasefarmersincomes.TheC?uLong(Mekong)Deltaprovincehashugepotentialformarineaquaculturewithitscoastlineofmorethan200kmand143smallandlargeislands.Itswatersteemwithhigh-valuemarinespecieswithsuchascobia,grouperandpomfretfishesandpearloysters.Nguy?nThanhNhàn,deputychairmanofitsPeoplesCommittee,said:Theprovincehasidentifiedthemarineeconomyasafocusofdevelopment,especiallyeffectiveandsustainabledevelopmentofmarineaquaculture.Theprovinceisimplementingaplantodevelopmarineaquaculturein2020-30.Ithad3,870floatingcagesforbreedingmarinespeciesasoflastyearwithanannualoutputof3,910tonnes.Ithasthelargestnumberofsuchfloatingcagesofanyprovinceinthedelta.Cageaquaculturehasbeenpopularintheprovincesince2000andhasgrownsignificantlyinthelastfiveyearsduetoitshighefficiencyandreliability.ItiscarriedoutmostlyinKiênH?iandKiênL??ngdistrictsandPhúQu?candHàTiêncities.TheprovincesAgricultureExtensionCentreisimplementingamodelthatusedhigh-densitypolyethylene(HDPE)floatingcagesinplaceoftraditionalwoodenonestoenhancebreedingefficiency.Thereare69HDPEfloatingcageswithatotalvolumeof3,530cu.mintheprovince.Theyproduceyieldsof16kilogrammesofaquaticspeciespercubicmetre,fourorfivekilogrammesmorethanwoodenones.LêV?nX?o,directoroftheTi?n??tCo-operativeinKiênH?iDistrictsL?iS?nCommune,saidtheextensioncentreprovidedsupporttohisco-operativesmemberstosetup10HDPEcagesin2022.Afterseeingtheirefficiencyduringonetotwoharvests,mostmembersswitchedtothem,hesaid.TheHDPEcageshavealifeof20yearsasagainstthreeorfouryearsforthewoodenones,hesaid.HDPEfloatingcagescopebetterwithstrongwavesthanwoodenonesandfishraisedinthemdevelopwell.Butnotmanyfarmersareabletobuythemsincetheircostishigh.Todevelopmarineaquaculturesustainably,theprovinceaimstostepuptheuseofhigh-techbreedingmethods,includingtheuseofHDPEcages.HighprofitsFarmersincoastalareasandislandshavebredmorethan2,800haofaquaticspeciesinmarinecagesandharvested2,000tonnesasofearlyJune.AfarmerchecksgrouperfishbredinafloatingcageinL?iS?nCommuneinKiênGiangProvincesKiênH?iDistrict.–VNA/VNSPhotoLêSenNinhV?nS?n,whohasbeenraisingfishinKiênL??ngDistrictsHònNgh?Communefor15years,saidthisyearheboughtmorethan10,000fishfrytobreed,mostlypearlgrouper,cobia,yellowpomfret,andreddrum,infourHDPEcagesand16woodencages.Hehassoldmorethan2,000maturefishsofarthisyearandearnedprofitsofVN?100million(US$3,900),hesaid.Thepricesofmarineaquaticspecieshavebeenhighsincetheendoflastyearandsomostfarmersaremakinghighprofits,hesaid.BreedingfishinHDPEcagesisefficientbuteachcostsVN?40-60million($1,600-2,300),andsohedoesnothaveenoughmoneytobuymoreofthem,hesaid.IhopetheGovernmentwill[provide]softloansor[allow]repaymentininstalmentssothatfarmerscaninvestinthecages.DevelopmentKiênGiangtargetshaving7,500cagesandanannualoutputof29,890tonnesby2025,increasingto14,000and105,690tonnesby2030.Ithastakenanumberofmeasurestohelpfarmersdevelopmarineaquacultureinrecentyears,organisingmanytrainingcoursesandseminarstotrainthem.V?Th?Th?m,whohas40floatingcagesandbreedsvariousfishesinKiênH?iDistrictsHònTreCommune,said:Iandmyhusbandparticipateinallseminarsandtrainingcoursesonbreedingtechniquesandapplythem.MyfamilyhasusedHDPEfloatingcagesfortwoyears.Sheharvests40tonnesayearandearnVN?1billion($39,000),shesaid.Buttheprovincefacesdifficultiessuchassmallscaleofbreedinganddiseaseoutbreaks,accordingtoitsDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.LêH?uToàn,itsdirector,saidconcentratedbreedingareaswouldbesetupformarineaquaculture,linkageswouldbecreatedbetweenvariousstakeholdersinthesupplychainandidentifyingcodesforfarmerswouldbeissued.Theprovinceplanstostrengthenfisheriesextensionactivities,ensurebreedingareasandwaterenvironmentmeetstringentstandards,andenhancediseaseforecastingandwaterqualitytohelpfarmerstoavoidlosses.Itwillcreatefavourableconditionsforfarmerstoaccesssoftloansandfindmarketsfortheirproduceathomeandabroad.TheprovincehasissuedlicencesforfourmarineaquacultureprojectscostingatotalofVN?695billion($27million)andhavingatotalbreedingareaof2,197ha.—VNS

Twenty-oneelectricvehiclesparkedatthesitearecompletelydestroyedbythefire.—VNA/VNSPhotoThanhBaQU?NGNAM—AfirebrokeoutonFridaymorningatNo.5LêV?nHi?nStreet,TanAnWard,H?iAnCity,destroying21electricvehicles.Theblazewasspottedaround5a.m.byemployeesoftheH?iAnElectricVehicleFireOneMemberLimitedLiabilityCompany,whoattemptedtoextinguishtheflamesandalertauthorities.Despitetheirefforts,onlyfourvehiclescouldbesaved.TheB?cQu?ngNamfireandrescuepolicerespondedswiftlywith12officersandfourfiretrucks,containingthefirewithin30minutesandpreventingfurtherspread.Initialinvestigationssuggestthefiremayhavestartedfromabatteryinoneofthevehicles.Thecaseisbeingfurtherinvestigated.ThisincidentmarksthesecondelectricvehiclefireinH?iAninlessthanthreemonths,followingasimilarblazeonMay8thatdestroyed40vehiclesattheCentralPowerCollegeparkinglot.—VNSAruralroadinL?cHi?pCommuneinBìnhPh??cProvincesL?cNinhDistrict.Thecommunewasrecognisedasanadvancednew-styleruralcommunein2020.—VNA/VNSPhotoBìNHPH??C—BìnhPh??cProvinceisspeedinguptheacquisitionofnew-styleruralareastatusunderanationalprogramme.Inthismountainousborderprovinceinthesoutheast,nearly20percentofitspopulationbelongstoethnicminorities.Ofits86communes,73arerecognisedasnew-styleruralcommunes.Toachievethestatus,acommunemustmeettheprogrammes19criteriarelatedtoinfrastructure,irrigation,electricity,environment,income,education,healthcare,socialsecurity,culture,andothers.Theprovinceplanstoaddfivenewtothelistthisyear,accordingtoitsDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.Therearetwomorelevelsintheprogramme,advancedandexemplarywithhigherstandardsacrossallcriteria,anditplanstoaddsixtotheformerlisttoincreaseitto33thisyearandgetitsfirsttwoexemplarycommunes.Ph?mTh?yLuan,directorofthedepartment,saidcommunesarestrivingtosustainthestandardstheyhaveachievedandinvestingininfrastructuretomeettheremainingcriteria.Tr?nTu?Hi?n,chairwomanoftheprovincialPeoplesCommittee,saidbuildingnew-styleruralareashasbecomeawidespreadmovementthathashelpedimprovesocio-economicinfrastructureinruralareas.Agriculturehasbeenrestructuredwellandtheruraleconomyhasdevelopedsignificantly,helpingimprovethelivesofpeopleinthecountryside,shesaid.ImprovelivesTheprovinceistakingmeasuresandstartingmovementstoincreasethenumberofnew-styleruralareasandimprovethelivesofpeoplethere.ItsFatherlandFrontCommitteeandothersocio-politicalorganisationshaveimplementedamovementcalledAllpeopleunitetobuildnew-styleruralareasandcivilisedurbanareas.TheyhavealsoimplementedFarmersemulategoodproductionandbusiness,andunitetohelpeachothergetrichandescapepovertysustainably,Farmersemulatetobuildnew-styleruralareasandcivilisedurbanareasandBìnhPh??cwomensaynicewordsanddogoodthings.Tr?nV?nMinh,chairmanoftheprovincialFarmersAssociation,saidtheFarmersemulategoodproductionandbusiness,andunitetohelpeachothergetrichandescapepovertysustainablymovementhasthrownupmanyoutstandingfarmers.Theyarecreativeandhaveappliedadvancedtechniquesintheirproductionandbusiness,hesaid.OnJuly12,theprovincehonoured112farmersfortheiroutstandingachievementsin2023.Peopleintheprovinceactivelyparticipateinthemovementsandcontributelabour,landandmoneyforbuildinginfrastructure.InBùGiaM?pDistricts??k?Commune,roadsinresidentialareasarepavedwithcementorasphaltandplantedwithflowers.Morethan75percentofthecommunespopulationisethnic.Tr?nM?nhToàn,chairmanofthecommuneFatherlandFrontCommittee,saidpeopleinthecommunehavedonated76,000sq.mofland,thousandsoftreesandVN?732million(US$29,000)incashtobuildroadsandotherinfrastructure.Thecommunehasdonatedhousesto114poorhouseholdsinthepastfiveyears,hesaid.Ithasestablishedself-managingteamstoensuresafetyinresidentialareas.Forinstance,itsBùXiaVillagehasateamwith15volunteerswhotaketurnstoworkaroundtheclockandhavenippedoffmanycasesthatcouldhavecausedsecurityissues.Ph?mV?n??o,avillager,saidtheteammakespeoplefeelsecurewhentheygotoworkandsleepwellatnight.InL?cPhúCommuneinL?cNinhDistrict,30percentofthepopulationisethnicanditusedtobeextremelydisadvantagedbeforeitimplementednew-styleruralcriteria.Itmetall19criterialastyear.InV?VangHamlet,thecommunebuiltawatersupplysitewithaborewellin2022.Th?Tách,alocal,saidinthepastpeoplehadtogotoswampsandspringtogetwater,whichwasadifficultchore.Inthedryseason,peoplehadtogoveryfartogetwater,shesaid.Afterthehamletgotthewatersupplysite,peoplecomeheretotakewaterandbathe.Thecommunehasalsoimplementedmanymeasurestoreducepovertysuchasprovidingfreeseedlings,animalsandfarmingknowledgetofarmers.Itisexpectedtobecomepoverty-freebytheendofthisyear.—VNS