ThenewruralappearanceofTh??ngTínDistrictinHàN?i.HàN?I—HàN?iiscurrentlytheleadinglocalityinthecountryinbuildingnewruralareasandadvancednewruralareas.HanoiPartyCommittee(term17)hasissuedProgramNo04-CTr/TUonpromotingtheeffectiveimplementationoftheNationalTargetProgramBuildingnewruralareasassociatedwithrestructuringtheAgriculturesectoranddevelopmentofruraleconomy,improvingthematerialandspirituallivesoffarmersintheperiod2021-2025.Theprogramhasorientedtheexploitationandhighlightingofthecapitalsuniquecharacteristicsofagriculturalandruraltourism.TocreateapremiseforthedevelopmentofruralagriculturaltourismintheCapital,Hanoihasfocusedonbuildinganewlookforthecountryside,helpingvillagesinthesuburbsofHanoitobefullofnewvitalityandculture,modernity.IfpeoplehadtheopportunitytovisitTh??ngTínDistrictonthedayswhenHàN?icelebratedthe70thanniversaryofcapitalcitysLiberation(October10,1954-October10,2024),theywouldhaveseenthecountrysidebedeckedwithbeautifulflags,bannersandslogans.InHoàBìnhCommune,allvillageshaveculturalhouses.InThu??ngVillagealone,alloffourhamletshavespaciousculturalhousesand100percentofthevillageshavepublicentertainmentareas,outdoorsportsandexerciseequipmenttoservethepeople.AsforNguy?nTr?iCommune,thankstothegoodindustrialdevelopment,allofthelabourersinthecommunehavejobsandstableincomes.Promotinglocalstrengths,HongVancommune(ThuongTindistrict,Hanoi)hasshiftedfrompureagriculturalproductiontoagriculturaldevelopmentassociatedwithcraftvillageeco-tourism.Nguy?nTu?nCh?nh,SecretaryofV?nhM?VillagePartyCommitteeinNguy?nTr?iCommune,saidthatthenewruralareahashelpedthelocalitychangedramatically.Theinfrastructureiscompleteandlocalpeoplepromotetrade,servicesandsmall-scaleindustrydevelopment.SpecificallytheQu?t??ngIndustrialClusterinthecommuneiscreatingjobsforhundredsofworkers.ThecommunealsohasthreetraditionalembroideryvillagesincludingXómB?n,GiaKhánhand?ìnhT?,thankstowhichmanyolderworkerscanalsoearnmoney,sonooneininthoseareasisunemployed.AlsointheseOctoberdays,joycametoMai?ìnhCommuneinSócS?nDistrictwhenthePartyCommittee,authoritiesandpeopleinthecommunereceivedthetitleofacommunemeetingadvancednewruralstandards.ChairwomanoftheMai?ìnhCommunePeoplesCommittee,Nguy?nTh?ThanhHuy?n,saidthatinlessthanoneyear,thecommunehadbeenrecognisedbythecitytwiceasmeetingadvancednewruralstandards.ThefirsttimewasonFebruary23,thesecondwasonAugust12thisyear.Atpresent,theaverageincomeofthecommunereachesnearlyVN?76million(US$2,900)perperson,peryear.Healthcareandeducationqualityisafocusandsocialsecurityisguaranteed.Inter-communeruralroadsinTh??ngTínDistrict.Returningtotheregionthatsufferedmanylossesintheresistancewar,theformercommunesofKhuCháySafeZonesuchas??ngTan,TrungTú,Tr?mL?ngand??ngL?in?ngHoàDistricthavechangeddramaticallyandarefullofvitality.Thevillageroadsthatwereoncemuddyandnarrowarenowspacious,cleanandshadedbygreentrees.KhuCháytodayhasbecomeakeyrice-growingareawithahigh-qualityricevaluechainandthebrandnameKhuCháyQualityRice.Thenewruralconstructioncampaignhastrulyspreadwidelytoeverycitizenandvillage.ManylocalitieshavepracticalandeffectivemodelsandmethodssuchasSócS?n,?anPh??ng,BaVìand?ngHoàdistricts.PrimaryandjuniorsecondaryschoolsinPhúXuyênTown,PhúXuyênDistrict.Everyyear,localitiesorganiseacontestKeepingvillagesandresidentialgroupsbright,green,clean,beautifulandsafe,whichhasreceivedpositiveresponsesfromthepeople.ChairmanoftheSócS?nDistrictPeoplesCommittee,Ph?mV?nMinh,saidthatasofSeptemberthisyear,11communesinthedistrictreachedtheadvancednewruralareastandard.Thedistrictstrivestoreachthenewruralareaconstructiontargetoneyearaheadofschedule,accordingtotheResolutionofthe12thDistrictPartyCongressforthe2020-2025term.In?ngHoàDistrict,Nguy?nChíVi?n,StandingDeputySecretaryofthedistrictPartyCommitteeinformedthatthedistricthas28outof28communesmeetingnewruralstandards,ofwhichninemeettheadvancednewruralstandards.Fromapooragriculturalarea,?ngHoàDistrictisdevelopingstronglyalongwiththecapitalandthecountry.ThetouristrouteNamTh?ngLong–HàN?iHeritageRoadandthedestinationQu?ngPhúC?uIncenseStickCraftVillageattractalargenumberoftourists,promotinglocalcultureandproducts.DeputyChiefoftheStandingOfficeoftheHàN?iNewRuralDevelopmentProgramme,Nguy?nV?nChí,saidthataftermorethan10yearsofimplementingtheNationalTargetProgrammeonNewRuralDevelopment,thankstoclosedirectionofthemunicipalPartyCommittee,PeoplesCommittee,andPartycommitteesatalllevels,localauthoritiesandthepeoplesparticipation,thesuburbanareasofHàN?iaregrowingpositively.From2021tonow,HàN?ihascalledforVN?83trillion($3.2billion)toinvestinruralareas.Thankstothat,HàN?isruralareashavehadsynchronousandmoderninfrastructure,inharmonywithurbandevelopment.DirectoroftheHàN?iDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment,Nguy?nXuan??i,saidthatasofJulythisyear,all382outof382communesinthecapitalcitymetthenewruralstandards,188communeshavemettheadvancednewruralstandards(exceedingthesettarget).Currently,fourdistrictsincludingGiaLam,??ngAnh,ThanhTrìandHoài??chavecompletedtheadvancednewruraldistrictdossierandhaveappliedtocompetentauthoritiesforconsiderationandrecognition.Inaddition,ThanhOai,Th??ngTínand?anPh??ngdistrictsarecompletingtheadvancednewruraldistrictdossier.ItcanbeseenthatthesuburbanareasofHàN?iaredevelopingdaybydaytowardscivilisation,modernityandanewrichidentity.Thegreen,cleanandbeautifulcountrysidehasbeenandiscontributingsignificantlytobeautifyingthecapitalcitytodevelopworthyofitsthousandyearsofcivilisation.—VNS*ThearticleispublishedundertheCoordinationOfficeoftheNew-StyleRuralDevelopmentProgrammeinHàN?i.

VietnameseAmbassadortoAustraliaPh?mHùngTam(right)receivesPresidentoftheVietnamAustraliaInnovationNetwork(NICAU)Tr?nPhiV?onThursday.VNA/VNSPhotoSYDNEY–VietnameseAmbassadortoAustraliaPh?mHùngTamreceivedPresidentoftheVietnamAustraliaInnovationNetwork(NICAU)DrTr?nPhiV?attheembassysheadquartersinCanberraonThursday.V?,alecturerattheUniversityofNewSouthWales,informedtheambassadoraboutoutstandingactivitiesofNICAU,amemberoftheVietnamNationalInnovationCentre(NIC),sinceitsinceptioninDecember2019,includinginternationalworkshopsandscience-technologyexhibitions,whichhavehelpedconnectVietnameseexperts,intellectuals,andscientistsbothathomeandabroad.HeexpressedhiswishtocoordinatewiththeembassytocontinuepromotingimportantactivitiesofNICAUandexpandingtiesbetweenthetwocountriesintheareasrelatedtosustainabledevelopmentandtechnology.Forhispart,TamspokehighlyofNICAUsnetworkingeffortsaswellasV?simportantroleasitsPresidentforthepastnearlyfouryears.TheambassadorbelievedNICAUwillgrowfurthertoorganisediverseactivitiesandconnectandattractmanyVietnameseexpertsandintellectualsinAustralia,thuscontributingthetwocountriesrelationsaswellasscience-technologydevelopmentinthehomeland.HeaskedVuasNICAUPresidenttoremainabridgelinkingNICAUwithVietnamesepeoplesassociationsinAustraliaandsupportthecommunityofVietnamesestudentsinthecountry.VNSHCMCitysspecialisedrescueteamincludes45officers,bothterrestrialandaquaticunits,aimingtotackleemergencysituations.—PhotocourtesyoftheHCMCityPoliceHCMCITY—TheHCMCityPolicehavelaunchedVi?tNamsfirstspecialisedrescueteam,featuringbothterrestrialandaquaticunits,totackleemergencysituations.Theteam,comprising45officers,willreceivespecialisedtrainingandemployadvancedequipmentandroboticsforchallengingrescueoperations.SpeakingatthelaunchonTuesday,ColonelHu?nhQuangTam,headoftheHCMCityFirePreventionandFightingPolice,saidteammembersareselectedbasedonhealth,expertise,andexperience,withtrainingincorporatingbestpracticesfromJapanandSouthKorea.Theteamwillhandleintricaterescues,suchasusingradiosandunderwatercamerasforindividualstrappedindrainagesystems,freeingvictimsfromsubmergedvehicles,oraidingthoseinhigh-risefires.Thisteamwillalsoassistneighbouringprovincesandparticipateininternationalrescueeffortsasneeded,hesaid.ThecityhasallocatedVN?119billion(US$4.7million)foradvancedfirefightingequipmentandmaterials,accordingtoTam.TheHCMCityFirePreventionandFightingPolicehasahistoryofparticipatinginnumerouschallengingrescuemissions.In2020,itsuccessfullyrescuedanindividualwhohadfallenintoa280-meterdeepcaveinHàGiangProvinceandretrievedabodyfroma220-metredeepcaveinamountainousregionofCaoB?ng.Lastyear,membersoftheforceweredeployedtoTurkeytoaidinrescueeffortsfollowingthedevastatingearthquakedisaster.—VNS

WavescrashoveraseawallasSuperTyphoonKong-reynearedthecoastofTaitung,Taiwan,onThursday.—AFP/VNAPhotoHàN?I—VietnameseairlineshavemadeadjustmentstotheirflightschedulestoandfromTaiwan(China)onOctober31andNovember1duetotheimpactofTyphoonKong-rey.NationalflagcarrierVietnamAirlineshasrescheduleddeparturetimesforflightstoavoidthestorm-affectedareasaroundtheTaoyuanInternationalAirportinTaipei.Specifically,flightsVN570fromHCMCitytoTaipeionOctober31andVN571fromTaipeitoHCMCityonNovember1wererescheduledtodepartatthesametimeonNovember1andNovember2,respectively.FlightVN586fromHàN?itoKaohsiungonOctober31willdepartat4:15amonNovember1,whileflightVN580fromHCMCitytoKaohsiungonOctober31wasrescheduledtodepartat2:25amonNovember1.ArepresentativeofVietnamAirlinessaidthatthecarrierhasadjusteditsflightschedulestoensuresafety,aimingtomaintainoriginaldepartureandarrivaltimes.However,asmultipleairlinesarereroutingtoavoidthetyphoon,airtrafficcongestionmayoccur,potentiallycausingfurtherdelays.Vietjethasalsoadjustedflightsto/fromTaiwan(China)onOctober31.FlightsVJ948fromHàN?itoTaichungonOctober31andVJ949fromTaichungtoHàN?ionOctober31wererescheduledtodepartat7amand11:30amonNovember1,respectively.FlightsVJ852fromHCMCitytoTaichungandVJ853fromTaichungtoHCMCityonOctober31wererescheduledfor8amand13.20pmonNovember1.Someotherflightsarealsoexperiencingdelays.Accordingtoairlinerepresentatives,adverseweatherduringstormsisanunavoidablesituationthatincurssignificantcostsforairlines,includingfuelexpenses.However,passengersafetyremainsthetoppriority.Passengershavebeenadvisedtokeepaclosewatchonthetyphoonwhileanyflightchangesarisingfromweatherconditionswouldbeupdatedontheairlinesfanpagesandwebsitesorviaphoneandemailprovidedbycustomers.—VNA/VNSThetwowartimebombshavebeensafelydetonated.—VNA/VNSPhotoV?NHPHúC—AuthoritiesinthenorthernprovinceofV?nhPhúconThursdaydetonatedtwobombswhichhadbeendiscoveredinB?chL?uCommuneofS?ngL?District.Thebombs,weighing300-400kgeach,weresaidtobeleftoverfromtheresistancewaragainstUSimperialists.Earlier,theDivisionofEducationandTrainingofS?ngL?DistrictrequestedthetemporarysuspensionofteachingandlearningonthemorningofOctober31atschoolsinsixcommunesandonetowntoensuresafetyforlocalteachersandstudents.Inrecentyears,somelocalitiesinV?nhPhúchavediscoveredanddetonatedbombsandammunitionleftfromthewar.OnOctober24,awar-timebombweighing1,362kgwasalsoremovedtoasafelocationinthecapitalcityofHàN?i.—VNSS?ngL?Districtsmilitaryofficersmovedthebombstothesafedetonationlocation.—VNA/VNSPhotoDiamondsarehiddeninsideminttins.—VNA/VNSPhotoHCMCITY—TwopassengersfromIndiaenteringTanS?nNh?tInternationalAirportinHCMCityhavebeenfoundtobecarryingover1,000naturalandsyntheticdiamonds,withanestimatedvalueoftensofbillionsofVN?.Accordingtoinformationfromtheairportscustomsauthorities,onOctober23,throughX-rayscreeningofluggage,theImportedLuggageProceduresTeamhavedetectedsuspiciousimagesfromtheluggageofamannamedP.S.H(Indiannationality),whohadenteredVi?tNamfromIndia.AuthoritiesdiscoveredseveralsmalldocumentsprintedwiththelettersIGIand10nylonbagscontaining716naturalandsyntheticdiamondshiddeninawallet,mixedwithclothesandpersonalitems.Duringquestioning,themanadmittedthatthesmallitemsinthe10nylonbagswerediamonds,transportedfromIndiatoVi?tNamtodelivertocustomers,buthehadnotdeclaredthemtocustomsasrequired.IndiannationalP.S.HattheHCMCityofficefollowingthesmugglingofdiamonds.—VNA/VNSPhotoOnOctober25,theImportedLuggageProceduresTeamonceagaindetectedsuspicioussignsintheluggageoftouristD.A.K.(Indiannationality),whohadenteredfromHongKong.Theyfound15nylonbagscontaining362diamondshiddenatthebottomoftwomintboxes,coveredwithrealmints.Thesetwocandyboxesweremixedinwithotherpersonalitemsforcamouflage.BothcaseshavebeentransferredtotheEconomicPoliceDepartmentofHCMCityforfurtherinvestigation,inaccordancewithregulations.InvestigatorsbelievethisispartofanillegaldiamondsmugglingoperationthroughTanS?nNh?tInternationalAirport,wherethediamondsaresoldtostoreownersinHCMCityforlargeillicitprofits.—VNS

RepresentativesoftheVietnamWomensUnion(VWU)andNovartisVietnamsignapartnershiponRaisingawarenessandenhancingsupportforwomeninthepreventionandcontrolofbreastcancerinVi?tNam.—PhotocourtesyoftheVWUHàN?I—TheVietnamWomensUnion(VWU)andNovartisVietnamhavepartneredupintheprogrammeRaisingawarenessandenhancingsupportforwomeninthepreventionandcontrolofbreastcancerinVi?tNam.Theinitiative,scheduledtorunfromOctober2024toDecember2026,aimstopromotecommunicationsandenhanceknowledgeofbreastcancerinthecommunity.ViceChairmanoftheVWUNguy?nTh?MinhH??ngsaidonOctober30:ThepartnershipbetweentheVietnamWomensUnionandNovartisVietnamholdspracticalmeaning,aimingtocontributetotheVietnamWomensUnionsessentialmissionofsupportingwomeninhealthcare,movingtowardsthegoalofbuildingKnowledgeable,HealthyFamilies.ThePresidiumoftheCentralVietnamWomensUnionisconfidentthattheimplementationofthiscooperativeprogrammewillempowerwomen,promotegenderequality,andcontributetothecountrysbroadereffortstoachievesustainabledevelopmentgoals.TheeventispartoftheAPPIS(AlliancePartnershipsforPatientInnovationSolutions)platform,developedandsponsoredbyNovartistoprovidebetterhealthcarequalityforpeopleintheAsia-Pacific,MiddleEastandAfricaregions.Theprogrammeincludesawiderangeofactivities,suchascommunitycommunications,aimingtoraiseawarenessinbreastcancerpreventionandreducestigmaagainstdiseasesrelatedtoreproductivehealth.Atthesametime,variousformsofcommunicationonsocialmediaanddigitalplatformswillbeimplementedtohelpwomenaccesshealthcareknowledgemoreeasilyandconveniently.Thiswillencouragethehabitofregularhealthcheck-upsandbreastselfexaminationsforearlydiseasedetection.Theprogrammealsoaimstoorganiseinspirationaleventsanddevelopadedicatedsocialnetworkhealthcaremodelforwomenwithbreastcancer,managedbyVWU.Theseinitiativeswillnotonlypromotecommunityconnectionsbutalsoprovidemuch-neededsupportandencouragementtowomenfacingthedisease.Puttingwomenatthecentre,theprogrammesactivitieswillbedevelopedbasedonlisteningtoandunderstandingtheneedsofwomenandbreastcancerpatientsthemselvesinaccessinginformationaboutthedisease.ThiswillinvolvepatientorganisationssuchastheResilientWomensClubNetwork,SaltCancerInitiative,andCommunityMedicineOrganisation.AccordingtoGlobocandatain2022,breastcanceristhemostcommontypeofcanceramongVietnamesewomen,with24,563newcasesreported,accountingfor28.9percentofcancercasesinwomen.Thismeansthatanestimated24.5outofevery100,000peoplearenewlydiagnosedwithbreastcancer.Thediseasecausesover10,000deathseachyear,representing8.3percentoftotalcancer-relateddeathsinVi?tNam.—VNSDeputyMinisterofHealthTr?nV?nThu?nspeaksattheevent.—PhotocourtesyoftheKHospitalHàN?I—LocalandinternationalhealthexpertsarediscussingmeasurestoimprovethequalityofcancerpreventionandcontrolinVi?tNamataninternationalconferenceononcologyinHàN?ionOctober31.Thetwo-dayconferencewasjointlyorganisedbyK(Cancer)HospitalandtheVi?tNamCancerAssociationincollaborationwiththeAmericanSocietyofClinicalOncology.WiththethemeMultimodalTreatmentofCancerandHospitalManagementintheDigitalEra–BestofASCO2024,thescientificforumhostednearly1,400scientistsandexpertsfromVi?tNamandaroundtheworld.Speakingattheevent,DeputyMinisterofHealthTr?nV?nThu?npraisedtheVi?tNamCancerAssociationandKHospitalfororganisingthemeaningfulconferencetoprovideguidelinesandstrategiesforcancerpreventionaswellastocreateopportunitiestolearn,shareandexchangeexperiencescomprehensivelyinthefieldofcancertreatment.Cancerisbecomingamajorburdeninmanycountriesaroundtheworld,especiallyinlow-andmiddle-incomecountries.Itispredictedthatby2030,about75percentofcancerdeathswilloccurinlow-andmiddle-incomecountries.Furthermore,only10percentofpatientsinlow-incomecountriesand50-60percentinmiddle-incomecountrieshaveaccesstoradiotherapy,comparedto90percentinhigh-incomecountries.Thishighlightstheinequalitybetweenhigh-incomeandlow-middle-incomecountries,includingVi?tNam,saidThu?n.Cancerpreventionrequiresmodern,up-to-dateprofessionalknowledgeandtechniquesfromdoctorsandmedicalstaff.Ihopethattheconferencewillbringmanynewideas,makingpracticalcontributionstothedevelopmentofoncologyinparticularandVietnamesemedicineingeneral,addedThu?n.Attheevent,participantsheardthatmultimodalitytreatmentisacombinationofmanymethodstoimprovetheeffectivenessofcancercontrol.Thethreeclassictreatmentmethods(surgery,radiotherapyandchemotherapy)areincreasinglyprovingtheirimportanceincancertreatment.ThehealthsectorofVi?tNamhasrecentlyearnedmanyachievementsincancerpreventionandtreatmentinthepastyears.ThecurerateforsomecancersatHospitalKandsomeotherhospitalsisonparwithadvancedcountriesintheregionandtheworld.Anotherbigadvantageforcancerpatientsisthatmosttests,chemicals,radiotherapyandsurgeryarefullyorpartiallycoveredbyhealthinsurance,althoughthecostsareextremelyexpensive.Asthemostrecenthealthreportshowed,in2023,paymentsforcancertreatmentdrugswillamounttomorethanVN?7.5trillion,accountingfor15.8percentoftotalhealthinsurancemedicalexpenses,comparedtomorethanVN?6.6trillion(accountingfor14.5percent)in2022.Futuretrendsincancertreatmentwillcontinuetocombinemanymethods:surgery,radiotherapyandsystemictherapies,withanemphasisonpersonalisedapproachesforindividualcases.Therehavebeenmanyadvancesintreatmentrecently,suchasminimallyinvasivesurgicaltechniques;cutting-edgeradiotherapytechnologies;targetedtherapiesandimmunotherapiesthathavedemonstratedcurativepotentialfornumerouspatients,improvedsurvivaltimesandminimisedadverseeffects.DirectorofKHospitalProf.LêV?nQu?ngspeaksattheevent.—PhotocourtesyoftheKHospitalDirectorofKHospitalProfessorLêV?nQu?ngsaidthattheincreasingnumberofnewcancercaseshasledtoanoverloadatmanyoncologyhospitalsinVi?tNam.Theapplicationofadvancedtreatmentmethodsalongwithnewmedicationsrequireshighcostsfortreatingcancerpatients,whichalsoputssomefinancialpressureonthehealthinsurancesysteminVi?tNam.Asidefromthat,thecurrentoncologyworkforcehasnotyetmettheactualdemand,requiringustopaymoreattentiontoeducationalandtrainingactivities,saidQu?ng.Themanagementofoncologyhospitalsneedstobediscussed,withexperiencessharedbybothdomesticandinternationalexpertstoimprovethequalityofcancerpreventionandcontrolinVi?tNam,accordingtoQu?ng.Duringtheconferences16sessions,domesticandinternationalexpertswilldiscussmanytopics,includingadvancesindiagnosisandtreatment,hospitalmanagement,managementanduseofhealthinsurancefunds,smarthospitalsandradiationtherapyinmultimodalcancertreatment.Inparticular,forthefirsttimeinVi?tNam,theconferencewillhavethematicsessionsonmedicaladvancesandthepositiveresultsofASCO2024forbothdomesticandinternationalexperts.TheASCO2024eventwillfeature30presentationsondiversetopics,includingbreastcancer,gynecological-urologicalcancers,lungcancer,headandneckcancers,digestivecancersandhematology.Itwillalsocovertheapplicationofnewtechnologies,suchastransoralsurgery,photon-modulatedradiotherapyinheadandneckcancers,andtheuseofcirculatingtumourDNAinpersonalisedcoloncancertreatment.Additionally,findingsonthecorrelationbetweenbiomarkersandtreatmentefficacyinbreastcancerandriskfactorsforovarianandendometrialcancersrelatedtohormonereplacementtherapywillbehighlighted.Theeventprovidesavaluableopportunityforoncologydoctorsandresearcherstoexchangethelatestupdatesandsharehigh-valueclinicalpracticeexperiencesinanefforttocontributetotheadvancementofcancerdiagnosis,treatmentandpatientcareinVi?tNam.AccordingtoGLOBOCAN2022,thereareover19.9millionnewcancercasesand9.7millioncancer-relateddeathsgloballyeachyear.Vi?tNamcurrentlyranks101stintermsofnewcancerincidencesand42ndinmortalityrateamong185countriesandterritories.—VNS

HócM?nGeneralHospitalinHCMCity.HCMCityhasbeenimplmentingmanypoliciestoattractinvestorsintohealthprojects.-Photosggp.org.vnHCMCITY-HCMCityisfocusingonattractinginvestmentintohealthcare,andhasunveiledanumberofpoliciestofacilitatethat.Thecityhas129hospitals,310medicalstationsand8,000clinicsthatgetaquarterofallvisitstomedicalfacilitiesaroundthecountryandatenthofinpatienttreatment.Someofthehospitalsareoverloaded,havepoorequipmentandhavedegradedovertheyears.HCMCityissolicitinginvestmentinmanyhealthcareprojectsunderthepublic–privatepartnershipmodel,andissuedDecreeNo.09/2023/NQ-H?NDtofacilitateloansfromtheState-ownedHCMCityFinancialInvestmentCompany(HFIC)forpriorityprojectsamongthem.Ithasapprovedaprogrammetomobiliseprivateresourcesfordevelopinghealthcarein2024–30,whichincludespoliciesandalegalframeworktoattractinvestors.RelevantagencieshavebeenorganisingconferencestoappriseVietnameseandforeignbusinessesaboutinvestmentopportunitiesinthehealthsector,andmanyhaveevincedinterest.Nguy?nNg?cHòa,chairmanofHFIC,saidmanybusinesseshavecompletedtherequiredadministrativeprocedurestoreceiveloans.ThecitysDepartmentsofPlanningandInvestmentandIndustryandTradehavecalledforformingtwocommitteestoassesswhichprojectsareeligiblefortheloans,andthiswouldmakeappraisalanddisbursementsofprojectsfaster.Nguy?nHoàiNam,deputydirectoroftheDepartmentofHealth,saidHCMCityisstrivingtobecomeamedicalcarehubofSoutheastAsia,andisplanningmanylargeprojectslikesettingupsixmajormedicalclustersinbothitscentralandsuburbanareas.Investmentshavebeenmadesuccessfullyunderthepublic-privatepartnershipmodelinothersectors,andsothereishopethatthehealthprojectswouldbesimilarlysuccessful.TheNationalAssemblysDecree98onpilotingpoliciesandmechanismsforHCMCitysdevelopment(issuedlastyear)andthecitysownDecreeNo.09/2023/NQ-H?NDhavemadeiteasiertoinvestinprojects.Theynolongerneedreciprocalcapital,canborrowloansformultipleprojectsatonce,cancombinedifferentsourcesoffundingforaproject,andloantermsaremoreflexible.Thiscouldhelphospitalsinvestinfacilitiesandequipmenttobettertreatpatients,Namsaid.HCMCitywantsinvestorstopourmoneyintoimprovinghospitalsequipmentandfacilities.-Photothanhnien.vn??àoMinhChánh,deputydirectoroftheHCMCityInvestmentandTradePromotionCentre,saidthecityisplanning116healthinvestmentprojectsworthnearlyVN?24trillion(US$948.8million)in2021–25,and150othersworthVN?52trillionin2026–30.Itisseekinginvestorstohelpitsetupahubfortraininghigh-qualitymedicalstaffanddevelopinginfrastructureandmedicaltourism,headded.DuringadialogueinearlyOctober,thecitycalledforinvestmentfromVietnameseandforeignbusinessesinsixprojectsformedicaltreatmentforforeignpatients,high-techdiseasescreeningandstroketreatment,andmoreprojectswillbeaddedinthefuture.Theyaretooperateunderthepublic–privatepartnershipmodel.Decree98hasalsobeenhelpingHCMCityimplementinvestmentprojectsinotherareassuchaspovertymitigationandcreatingjobs,andfundinghasbeendisbursedforfivebuild-operate-transferprojectstoupgraderoadssettobecompletedby2028.Italsoapprovedofaninvestmentprojecttosupplyaround2,000socialhousingapartments.Alistof41investmentprojectsproposedinhealthcare,educationandculturethroughthepublic–privatepartnershipmodelwasalsoissuedlastDecember.-VNS

TyphoonYagileavesatrailofdestructioninitswakeinthenorthernprovinceofQu?ngNinh.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—TheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs(MOLISA)hasproposedatemporaryreliefmeasureforTyphoonYagi-hitbusinesses,allowingthemtohaltcontributionstotheirpensionanddeathbenefitfunds.ThismovefollowsarecommendationfromVi?tNamSocialSecurity(VSS),whichreportedthatTyphoonYagihadseverelyimpacted3,300tourismbusinessesinnorthernVi?tNam,with93,000employeesonthepayroll.VSSrecommendedasix-monthbreakfrompensionanddeathbenefitcontributionsforthe3,300businesses,whichwouldsavethemapproximatelyVN?740billion(US$29million).MOLISAgenerallyagreedwiththerecommendation,proposingtheGovernmentgrantVSStheauthoritytodeterminewhichbusinesstobetemporarilyexemptedfrompensionanddeathbenefitcontributions,foraperiodnotexceeding12months.—VNSAnewbreakwaterandfloodprotectionprojectforTháiAnVillageisunderconstruction.VNA/VNSPhotosNINHTHU?N—Anumberofinfrastructureprojectsarebeingbuiltinthesouth-centralprovinceofNinhThu?n,aftertheconstructionoftwonuclearpowerplantswasshelved.TheprojectsofNinhThu?n1NuclearPowerPlant,coveringanareaof??440ha,andNinhThu?n2NuclearPowerPlant,withanareaof??380haandatotalcapacityof4,000MW,wereapprovedbytheNationalAssemblyin2009.However,inNovember2016,theNationalAssemblydecidedtohalttheprojects.InJuly2023,thePeoplesCommitteeofNinhThu?nProvinceannouncedthecancellationoflandacquisitionforcompensationandsiteclearancerelatedtotheprojects.InV?nhH?iCommune,wheretheNinhThu?n2NuclearPowerPlantwasplannedtobeconstructed,fournewinfrastructureworksarebeingbuiltwithabudgetofVN?175billionsourcedfromtheState.TheyincludenewbreakwaterandfloodprotectionstructuresforTháiAnVillage,threeroadsconnectingproductionareas,anupgradeoftheoldprovincialroad702,B?uTróPond,andawatersupplysystemfromH?Qu?tStream.NinhThu?nProvincePeoplesCommitteehasallocatednearlyVN?55billionfromlocalbudgetsourcesinthe2021-25medium-termpublicinvestmentplantoimplementeightotherprojects,includingnewschools,repairingcommunityhouses,buildingdrainagesystems,roadsandirrigationworks.UpgradingB?uTróPondDirectoroftheNinhH?iDistrictConstructionInvestmentProjectManagementBoard(representingtheinvestor)Nguy?n??c??nh,saidthatwhencompleted,B?uTróPondwillprovideabout400,000cu.mofwatertoTháiAn-akeygrapegrowingarea.Otherprojectssuchasbreakwatersandfloodbarrierswillhelppreventlandslides,whileupgradedroadswillmaketransportationeasierandensuresafetyforlocalpeopleduringtherainyseason,hesaid.Theprojectmanagementboardandtheconstructionunitaredeterminedtospeedupprogresstocompletethesefourcomponentprojectsbytheendof2024.AnoverviewofV?nhTr??ngHamletinPh??cDinhCommunewheretheNinhThu?n1NuclearPowerPlantwasplannedtobeconstructed.InPh??cDinhCommune,wheretheNinhThu?n1NuclearPowerPlantwastohavebeenbuilt,sixprojectsareunderconstruction.UsingStateandlocalbudgetsofnearlyVN?200billiontheyincludetheupgradeandexpansionofRoadNo701,coveringover3.7km,constructionofthreenewroutesconnectingRoadNo701withacoastalroad,constructionofadrainagesystem,floodandwaveprotectionembankmentsandalocalkindergarten.ArouteconnectingRoad701withacoastalroadisunderconstructioninPh??cDinhCommune.Duringarecenton-siteinspection,ChairmanoftheNinhThu?nProvincePeoplesCommitteeTr?nQu?cNamsaidthesewereimportantprojectsthattheNationalAssemblyandtheGovernmenthadruledwouldbeapriority,freeingupinvestmentresourcestoimprovethelivesofpeopleinthearea.Aftercompletion,theprojectswillhelpensuresmoothtraffic,facilitateresponsestonaturaldisasters,tackletheimpactsofclimatechange,andstrengthennationaldefenceandsecurity,hesaid.—VNS

AruralroadwithabridgeinTanTayCommune,Th?nhHoáDistrict,LongAnProvince.Theprovinceisbuildinganumberofnewruralroadstofacilitatetravelforpeopleandthetransportofgoodsinruralareas.–VNA/VNSPhotoMinhH?ngLONGAN–LongAnProvinceisprioritisingdevelopmentoftransportinfrastructure,withafocusonbuildingnewbridgesandruralroads.TheC?uLong(Mekong)Deltaprovinceisbuildingnewconcretebridgestoreplaceoldonesalongintra-provincialroads.OnProvincialRoad831,runningthroughtheborderdistrictsofTanH?ngandV?nhH?ng,arebeingbuiltsixconcretebridgestoreplaceoldironones.ConstructionoftheCanal28Bridge,oneofthesix,beganinJuneandisexpectedtobecompletedinDecember2025.Constructionoftherestwillbeginthisquarterandearlynextyear.TheywillcostnearlyVN?290billion(US$11.7million)andareestimatedtobecompletedby2027.ProvincialRoad831linksLongAnand??ngThápprovinces,andplaysanimportantroleinLongAnssocio-economicdevelopment,nationalsecurityandregionalconnectivity,accordingtotheprovinceDepartmentofTransport.??ngHoàngTu?n,directorofthedepartment,saidtheprovincealsohas19otheroldironbridges.Ofthem,sixareonProvincialRoad817,whichrunsthroughthedistrictsofTh?Th?a,Th?nhHoáandM?cHoá,andwillbebuiltin2025,withtherestcompletedbetween2026and2030,hesaid.AnoldironbridgeonProvincialRoad831inLongAnthathasdeteriorated.Theprovinceisimplementingaprojecttoreplacesixoldironbridgesontheroadwithconcreteones.–Photobaolongan.vnRuralroadsLongAnisimplementingaplantosupporttheconstructionofruralroadsonapilotbasisbetween2024and2025tomeetdevelopmentalneedsandacceleratethebuildingofnew-styleruralareas.Fundingforitcomesfromtheprovince,privateinvestorsandthepublic.Undertheplan,theprovincehasbegunconstructionofaroadalongKT8CanalinKhánhH?ngCommune,V?nhH?ngDistrict,betweenthehamletsofBàuSenandTàNu.Theroadis3.5kmlong,4metreswide,andwillcostVN?8.5billion(US$340,000).VicemHàTiênCementJointStockCompanyhasdonated1,247tonnesofcementworthVN?2.4billion(US$97,000)foritsconstruction.ThedistrictadministrationhasprovidedVN?4.3billion(US$173,000)forbuyingsandandrocks,andthecommuneiscoveringtheremainingcostslikeworkerswagesandmachineryrents.Tr?nV?nC??ng,chairmanoftheV?nhH?ngDistrictPeoplesCommittee,saidthatforthe2024-25plan,thedistrictisbeingallocatedaround5,000tonnesofcementtoconstruct13.9kmofhamletroads.Theconstructionoftheseroadsiscrucialformeetingthetransportneedsoflocalpeople,ensuringsafetravel,andcontributingtothedistrictssocio-economicdevelopment.Nguy?nMinhLam,deputychairmanoftheprovincePeoplesCommittee,hascalledonlocalitiestotakeallnecessarymeasuresandmobiliseallavailableresourcestoeffectivelyimplementapprovedprojectsundertheplan.Healsourgedauthoritiesatalllevelstomonitorconstructionqualityandspending.RelevantdepartmentsandsectorsmuststrictlyfulfilthetasksassignedbytheprovincePeoplesCommittee,hesaid.Thepublichasactivelycontributedtotheconstructionofruralroadsbydonatingland,moneyandlabour.Nguy?nC?ngH?uofPh??cLyCommuneinC?nGiu?cDistrictdonated1,000sq.moflandtowidenaroadinhisneighbourhood.Iseethatwideningtheroadhelpsstudentstraveltoschooleasierandenablespeopletotransportgoods,hesaid.Theprovinceaimstoconstruct153kmofhamletroadsatleastfourmetreswidebetween2024and2025.Aresolutionissuedbythe11thProvincialPartyCongress,term2020-2025,calledformobilisingallresourcestodevelopacomprehensivetransportinfrastructuresystem.Theprovincehas8,827kmofroadsnow,including1,119kmofearthenroads.Thenetworkislargelycompleted,contributingtosocio-economicdevelopmentandensuringnationaldefenceandsecurity,accordingtoTu?n.Thecompletionofkeytransportprojectstoenableindustrialandurbandevelopmenthasinstilledconfidenceininvestorsandattractedthemtotheprovince,hesaid.LongAnhasanimportantpositioninthesouthernregionasthegatewaybetweentheMekongDeltaandthesoutheasternregion,borderingCambodiaandHCMCityandlocatedinthesouthernkeyeconomiczone.–VNSSmokeseenfromtheaboveofthearea.VNA/VNSPhotosHàN?I—AhugeblazebrokeoutinthemiddleofnightonWednesdayatawarehouselocatedinanalleyoffV?nhTuyStreetinHàN?isHaiBàTr?ngDistrict,affectingdozensofhouseholdsnearby.Accordingtothecityspolice,thefirestartedatabout9.20pmatAlleyNo.124,V?nhTuyStreetandengulfedaround370sq.moftheglass,paperandcosmeticswarehouse.Therehavebeennohumancasualties.Thefirewasextinguishedat1amonThursday.Firetrucksmobilisedtothescene.Thewarehousewasfullofflammablematerials,sothefiregeneratedalotoftoxicsmokeandgasandquicklyspreadtoneighbouringfactoriesandwarehouses,policesaid.Theflamesbrokeoutinthemiddleòthenight.Firefightersworkingonthescene.Localresidentsrelocatetheirproperties.Thecauseofthefireisunderinvestigation.—VNS

AvocationalinstructordemonstrateselectricalinstallationtechniquestotwostudentsinavocationalcollegeinHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—VocationalcollegesinVi?tNamfaceagrowingchallengeinattractingstudents,asmorehighschoolgraduatesareprioritisingauniversityeducation.LêLam,Presidentof??iVi?tSàiGònCollege,believesthathighschoolgraduatestendtoviewvocationaltrainingasalastresort,placingitatthebottomoftheirlistsofchoicesafterexhaustingalluniversityoptions.Thelackofinteresthasleftvocationalcollegesstrugglingtofillseats.Somehaveturnedtomiddleschoolgraduatestoboostenrolmentbuthaveyieldedlittleresult.Severalvocationalinstitutionshavetriedtocastawidernet,evenincludingmiddleschoolgraduates,butthesituationremainsbleak,saidLam.Heillustratestheseverityoftheissuewithasimplecalculation:Outofapproximatelyonemillionhighschoolgraduatesannually,aboutone-fifthdonotenrolinuniversity.Assumingallofthemweretogotovocationalcolleges,withmorethan2,000suchinstitutions,eachwouldreceivefewerthanahundredstudentsayear,barelyenoughtomaintainoperations.??ngV?nNg?c,PrincipalofTheHàN?iCollegeforElectro-Mechanics,believesthattheoverwhelmingpreferenceforacademicdegreeswillleadtoashortageofskilledworkersinthelongterm.Heemphasisestheneedforamorefocusedapproachtoinvestinginvocationaltraining,suggestingthatthegovernmentshouldprioritisekeyareasratherthanspreadingresourcestoothin.Additionally,headvocatesforamoreflexibleregulatoryframeworkthatgrantsvocationalinstitutionsgreaterautonomyinoperationsandpersonnelwhileensuringaccountabilitythroughsupervision.LêHuyNam,DirectoroftheEducationDepartmentunderthePartyCentralCommitteesCommissionforInformationandEducation,underlinesasignificantgapinthelabourmarket,with38millionindividualslackingformalvocationaltraining.Heattributesthegaptoseveralfactors,includingoutdatedpolicies,inadequategovernanceandweakcollaborationbetweenvocationalinstitutionsandenterprises.Ifleftunaddressed,hebelievestheissuecouldseverelyunderminethedevelopmentofahigh-qualityworkforceinVi?tNam,hinderingthecountrysprogresstowarditsindustrialisationtargets.Nguy?nKhánhC??ng,RectoroftheLILAMA2InternationalTechnologyCollege,underlinesthehighcostsofvocationaltraining,whichcanreachbillionsofVN?perstudentoverathree-yearprogramme,makingitunsustainablewithoutgovernmentsupport.HesuggestsVi?tNamadoptamodelsimilartoGermany,whereenterprisescontributetoafundforvocationaltraining.Healsosharesthathiscollegehaspartneredwithenterprisesincost-sharingandprogrammedesign.Ifthegovernmentinvolvesenterprisesinvocationaltraining,thismodelwillthriveandproducehighlyskilledgraduates,hesaid.Theirvoiceshavebeenheard,withDeputyMinisterofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairsLêT?nD?ngstatingthatplansareunderwaytoreviewandinvestinvocationaleducation.Thefocuswillbeonkeysectors,alongsidestrengtheningcareerguidanceandjobplacement.TheMinistrywillprovideexpertadvicetothegovernmentonimprovingthevocationaltraininglandscapeanddevelopingahighlyskilledworkforce,saidD?ng.—VNSMorejobopeningsareexpectedtowardstheendoftheyearwhenretailbusinessesentertheirpeakperiod.—VNA/VNSPhotoTr?nVi?tHàN?I—PositivegrowthisprojectedforVi?tNamslabourmarketinthelastquarterof2024,butchallengesremaintobeaddressed,accordingtotheGeneralStatisticsOffice(GSO).Datafromtheofficeshowedthatinthefirstninemonthsofthisyear,theVietnameseeconomyrecordedincreasingnumbersofnewrecruits,newbusinessesenteringthemarketandrisingaveragemonthlyincome.Peopleofworkingageaccountfor51.4millionworkers,212,000morethaninthesameperiodlastyear.TheaveragemonthlyincomeincreasedbyVN?519,000(US$21).AccordingtoPh?mHoàiNam,headofGSOsPopulationandLabourStatisticsDepartment,thesearetheresultsofmorecompaniesenteringthemarketthanleaving,aswellasimprovementsintheexport-importsector.FromJanuarytoSeptember2024,Vi?tNamcountednearly122,000newbusinesseswithatotalregisteredcapitalofmorethanVN?1.16trillion($46.5million)andover735,000registeredemployees.Thisrepresentsa3.4percentincreaseinthenumberofbusinessesandregisteredcapital.Namaddedthatwhilethelabourmarketisontherecoverypath,multipleshortcomingsinhumanresourcesqualityremain.Currently,around37.6millionworkershavenotcompletedbasictraining.Onlyabout28.5percentofworkersnationwideareformallytrainedandcertified.Thenumberofemployedworkersisontherise,butthelabourmarketgrowthisnotsustainable,duetoasignificantproportionofinformalemploymentandunstablejobs.Thelastquarteroftheyearisthepeakperiodforretail,e-commerceandservicesduetorisingshoppingandconsumptiondemand,creatingmorejobopportunitiesforvariousqualificationsduringthistime.AccordingtotheHàN?iCentreforEmploymentService(HCES),thisyear-endperiodwillhaveabout120,000-150,000jobvacancies,mostlyforsales,serviceandtechnicalworkers.SalariesrangefromVN?7-20million($280-800)permonth,dependingonworkersqualifications.However,employersarefacingmultipleobstaclesinrecruitingseasonalworkersdespitethelargedemand,asmanyjobseekerslookforlong-termandstablepositions.HCESdeputydirectorV?QuangThànhtoldVoiceofVietnam(VOV):Inflationandrisinglivingcostshaveledtoworkersaskingforhigherwagesandbenefits.Thisputsgreatpressureonbusinesses,particularlysmallandmedium-sizedenterprises,tomaintainoperationalcostswhilerespondingtoworkersdemands.Healsonotedthatthecurrentlabourmarketlackshighlyskilledworkers.Thisisoneofthemajorchallengesforbusinesses,especiallythoseinfinanceandhigh-techindustries.Businessesarefacingintensecompetitioninattractingtalent,whichcompelsthemtooffermoreappealingsalaries,benefitsandworkingconditionstorecruitandretaintheiremployees.Theincreasingnumberofnewbusinessescanbringopportunitiesanddrivetheeconomyandlabourmarketforward,butthescaleofimpactdependsonthecompanysize,sectorandprofitability.Itischallengingtofindworkerswiththerightqualificationsastechnologydevelopmentsanddigitaltransformationrequirethemtoconstantlyupdateandadvancetheirskillset,saidThành.Therefore,skillandcapacitytrainingfornewworkersiscrucialtomeettherecruitmentdemandsofbusinesses,headded.—VNS