Tr?n??cTh?ng(thirdfromleft),chairmanofQu?ngYênTownPeoplesCommittee,Qu?ngNinhProvince,checkingpreparationsforsupertyphoonYagiataconstructionsite.—VNA/VNSPhotosHàN?I—IntheearlyhoursofSeptember7,asthecityslept,lightswereoninaroomonthe12thflooroftheGeneralDepartmentofMeteorologyandHydrologyheadquarters.Knownastheroomthatnevergoesdark,itisthenervecentreofVi?tNamsstormmonitoringoperations,whereforecastersgrappledwiththeimmensechallengeposedbySuperTyphoonYagi.Thissupertyphoon,thestrongesttostrikeVi?tNaminthreedecades,leftmeteorologists,officialsandstormtrackerswithoutrestastheyfacedthetaskofpredictingitseverymove.LivingwiththestormMaiV?nKhiêm,directoroftheNationalCentreforHydro-MeteorologicalForecasting,workedthroughthenightonSeptember6.Athispost,heguidedhisteam,analysingthestormstrajectoryasYagimovedclosertoVi?tNamscoastline.Inararemomentofrest,Khiêmsaidthatforecastingeffortsforthemassivestormhadstartedearly.Theentirepoliticalsystemwasdrawnintotheefforttopredictandmonitorthishugestorm.FromthePrimeMinistertotheNationalCivilDefenceSteeringCommittee,alleyeswereontheforecasts.Forty-eighthoursbeforethetyphoonstruckHainanIslandinChina,bothinternationalandVietnameseforecastingagencieshadagreedthatYagiwouldnotweakensignificantlyasitmovedintotheGulfofTonkinandtowardsVi?tNamscoast.Predictionsheldthatwindswouldremainatlevel13-14,andthetyphoonwouldlikelyhitVi?tNamscoastwithastrengthoflevel12orhigher.Despitethetighttimelinesandevolvingdata,VietnamesemeteorologistspredictionsmatchedthoseofJapan,SouthKorea,Chinaandotherinternationalforecastingagencies.Thecollaborationdidntstopthere.KhiêmsteamexchangeddataandinsightswithJapansRegionalTyphoonCentreandChinasMeteorologicalBureau,ensuringthatnothingwaslefttochance.Asthetyphoonclosedin,thepressuremounted.Hourlybulletinswentout,aswellasurgentupdateseverythreehours.Informationaboutriskslikeheavyrainfall,flashfloodsandlandslideswassharedwidely.Every10minutes,updatedsatelliteimages,radarreadingsandon-the-groundreportsfromcoastalmonitoringstationswereanalysed.Eventhesmallestchangescouldspelldisaster.Wehadtomonitoreverything,hetoldVietnamNewsAgency.Fordays,theteamlivedandbreathedthetyphoon,trackingitspathasitmaintaineditsbrutalintensityovertheEastSea(internationallyknownasSouthChinaSea).Itdidntlosepowerasexpected,evenaww88fterlandfallonHainan,andmaintainedsupertyphoonstrengthasitboredownonVi?tNam.BythetimethestormslastreportwasfiledonSeptember8,thecentrehadreleased46officialreportsand63rapidupdates.Theyhadnavigatedthestormwithmeticulousprecision,theirtirelesseffortshadbeenplayingacrucialroleinmitigatingitseffects.OfficersandsoldiersoftheMilitaryCommandofHàmYênDistrictinTuyênQuangProvincehelpevacuatepeopletosafeplaces.UnyieldingforceWhiletypicalstormstendtolosepoweraftercrossingHainanIsland,thisonedefiedexpectations.IthitQu?ngNinhandH?iPhòngwithferocity,lingeringoverlandfor12hoursandcreatinghavocinitswake.Asthestormpassed,asenseofreliefsweptthroughtheteam.Weregladitsweakened,Khiêmsaid,thoughhisconcernremained,especiallyasthetyphoonsaftermathstillthreatenedwithheavyrainfallandflashfloods.WhileKhiêmandhisteamlabouredoverweathermapsandradarscreens,DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nH?ngHàwasonthegroundinH?iPhòngwithagovernmenttaskforce,overseeingfinalpreparationsasthestormloomedlarge.Coastalprovincesunderthreatwereinlockdown,namelyQu?ngNinh,H?iPhòngandTháiBình.Maritimeactivitieswerebannedandresidentshadbeenadvisedtoshelterinplace.Airportsacrossthenorthernregions,fromVan??ninQu?ngNinhtoN?iBàiinHàN?i,suspendedflightsasthestormraged.ThePeoplesArmyofVi?tNamwasalsoonstandby.Nearly458,000soldiers,over10,000vehiclesandevenhelicoptershadbeenmobilisedtorespondtothetyphoon.Over100,000policeofficersweresimilarlydeployed,preparedtoassistwithfloodandstormresponseeffortsacross35provinces.InC?T?District,Qu?ngNinhProvince,astrictcurfewwasenforced.InH?iPhòng,industrialzonesandportswerefortifiedagainsttheoncomingstorm.AcrossthenorthernprovincesofNam??nh,TháiBìnhandNinhBình,northcentralprovinceofThanhHóa(chǎn),heightenedpreparationsforstormcontinued.HàN?iwasnodifferent.ThecitysPartySecretaryBùiTh?MinhHoàiorderedimmediate,city-widestormresponseefforts,ensuringthecapitalsresidentsweresafeasYagiapproached.Alleffortswereaimedatensuringthesafetyofresidents.ForacountrylikeVi?tNam,withover3,260kmofcoastlineanddozensoftyphoonsandtropicalstormsannually,experienceindealingwithsuchweathereventsisabundant.However,Yagihasimpartedcruciallessonsontheneedforcoordinatedresponsesfromtheentirepoliticalsystem,heightenedvigilancetowardsnaturaldisastersandtheunifiedeffortofthepopulaceinstrictlyadheringtoofficialadvisoriesandregulations.EvenbeforeTyphoonYagireachedtheeasternPhilippines,PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhissuedurgentdirectives,underscoringtheimportanceofearly,proactiveanddecisivemeasurestominimisedamage.DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nH?ngHàwasassignedtodirectlyoverseetheresponseefforts,establishingaforwardcommandpostatMilitaryRegion3inH?iPhòngCitytocoordinatewithlocalauthorities.TheMinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentalsoissueddirectivesfromSeptember2andmanagedremoteresponseoperations.Beforethestormmadelandfall,twoinspectionteamsledbytheDeputyPrimeMinisterandtheMinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentconductedassessmentsandprovidedguidanceacrosscoastalprovincesfromQu?ngNinhtoTháiBình.CoastguardforcescleanupfallentreesafterthestorminH?iPhòngCity.DamageassessmentandrecoveryeffortsAsof11amonSeptember11,thenumberofpeoplekilledorreportedmissingduetothestormhasreached292.Hundredsofthousandsofhectaresofricepaddies,cropsandorchardsareunderwaterandseverelydamaged.Thousandsoffishfarmingcageshaveeitherbeendestroyedorwashedaway.Manystores,offices,homesandschoolshavelosttheirroofsorsufferedsignificantdamage,whilenumerousadvertisingbillboards,telecommunicationpolesandmobilenetworktowershavebeentoppled.TreeshavebeenuprootedandstrewnacrossroadsinQu?ngNinh,H?iPhòng,H?iD??ngandHàN?i.OnSeptember7,DeputyPMHàdirectedprovincesandcitiestoswiftlycommencerecoveryefforts,focusingonstabilisingresidentslives,restoringpowerandre-establishingcommunicationsystems.TheMinistryofIndustryandTradeandtheMinistryofInformationandCommunicationsweretaskedwithrapidlyrestoringessentialservices,whiletheMinistryofDefenceandlocalforcesmanagedclean-upandreliefoperations.PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhhighlightedthatdespiteseriousresponseefforts,thedamageisstillconsiderable.ThekeylessonfromYagiunderscorestheimportanceofdecisiveleadership,coordinatedactionsandthoroughpreparation.Agenciesandlocalauthoritiesmustcontinuetobepreparedforemergencysituations,ensuringthesafetyofcitizensandswiftrecoveryfromdisasters.WiththeGovernmentstimelyanddecisiveleadership,coupledwithsocietalsolidarityandstrictadherencetoguidelines,Vi?tNamhassuccessfullynavigatedthechallengesposedbyTyphoonYagi.Althoughthestormhasleftsomeindividualswithenduringpain,italsoservesasasignificantlessoninunityandresolveindisasterresponse.—VNS

Workersindifficultcircumstancesinthesouthernprovinceof??ngNaireceivesfreetrainticketstoreturnhomeforT?tin2024.VNA/VNSPhotoLêXuanHàN?I—TheVi?tNamGeneralConfederationofLabourhasannouncedits2025LunarNewYear(T?t)planforworkers,whichincludesprovidingaround2,000round-triptrainticketsand400one-wayplaneticketstohelpworkersreturnhomeforthebiggestholidayoftheyearinVi?tNam.AccordingtoPhanV?nAnh,VicePresidentoftheVi?tNamGeneralConfederationofLabour,thebeneficiarieswillincludeallunionmembersandworkers,withprioritygiventothoseinparticularlydifficultcircumstances,suchasthoseaffectedbywork-relatedaccidents,occupationaldiseases,seriousillnesses,naturaldisasters,orthosewhohaveexperiencedreducedworkhours,jobloss,unpaidwagesorbonuses.ThetradeunionswilllaunchtheT?tReunion–SpringofGratitudetothePartyprogramme,whichwillincludeactivitiessuchastheopeningofthe2025TradeUnionT?tMarketandthelaunchoftheTradeUnionBus–Spring2025andTradeUnionTrain–Spring2025programmes.Additionally,unionofficialswillparticipateindelegationsledbyParty,State,andVi?tNamFatherlandFrontleaders,aswellasNationalAssemblydeputiesandlocalleaders,tovisit,presentgifts,andextendT?tgreetingstounionmembersandworkers.Inparticular,about2,000round-triptrainticketsand400one-wayplaneticketswillbeprovidedtounionmembersandworkersfromsouthernprovincestohelpthemreturntonorthernprovincesforT?t.DuringT?t2025,labourunionsatalllevelswillfocusonsupportingworkersindifficultcircumstancesorwithlowincomes,withassistancerangingfromVN?500,000to1millionperperson,fundedbyunionfinances.—VNSRocksandsoilblocktheroutetoBaVìNationalPark.—VNA/VNSPhotosV?nC?nhHàN?I—TherouteleadingtoBaVìNationalParkinHàN?ihasreportedlyerodedsinceearlySeptemberduetotheimpactofTyphoonYagi.Accordingtothenationalparksmanagementboard,duetotheimpactofthetyphoon,theareaexperiencedstrongwindsandcontinuousheavyrainfromSeptember6toSeptember10,particuww88larlyonthenightofSeptember7.Asectionoftheparksinternalroadwaywaserodedandseverelydamaged.AsectionofroadcracksdownduetotheimpactsofTyphoonYagi.Amediumvoltagepowerlinesupplyingelectricitytotheparkalsoexperiencedsomebrokenpoles,whiletheroofoftheinformationcentrewasblownaway.BaVìNationalParkhascutdownfallentreesontheroad,clearedlandslides,placedwarningsignsandbarriersandassignedforestrangerstoprovidetrafficsafetyguidancetodrivers.Erosionononesideoftheroute.Vehicleshavebeenbannedtoensuresafety.Motorbikesandcarswithlessthan16seatscannowtravelfromtheparksgatetoaltitudesof400m,600m,700mand1,000m.Observationandcompliancewithtrafficsignsarerecommended.Vehiclesarestillbannedonsectionsofroadfromanaltitudeof1,000mtotheUpper(Th??ng)Temple.Pedestriansarelimitedasmuchaspossible,exceptwhereabsolutelynecessary.FallentreesblocktherouteleadingtoUpperTemple.BaVìNationalPark,about60kmwestofHàN?i,isaspiritualrelicsitelocatedonthetopofT?nViênMountain.TheUpperTempleisnestledonahighelevationwithinthepark.—VNS

AmotherandhernewbornatHùngV??ngHospitalinHCMCity.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Ensuringsafemotherhoodthroughimprovedcarebefore,duringandafterpregnancywillnotonlyreducematernalandinfantmortalityratesbutalsolayastrongfoundationforthehealthofVi?tNamsfuturegenerations.Safemotherhoodisakeyinitiativeinmaternalandchildhealthcare,withtheaimofimprovingmedicalcarequalityfornewmothersandnewbornstoreduceobstetriccomplicationsandmortalityrates.StatisticsfromtheMinistryofHealth(MoH)fromthefirstninemonthsof2024showedthatmorethan87.67percentofexpectingmothersattendedatleastfourprenatalcheck-upsduringtheirpregnancy,andnearly96percentofchildbirthswereassistedbyskilledhealthcareworkers.Therateofpostnatalcareduringthefirstweekafterchildbirthremainsabove72percent.Educatingexpectingandnewmothersisseenasakeytask,especiallyintheoptimalcareforchildrenduringtheirfirst1,000daysoflife.Theseeffortsrequiretheengagementofthefathersandthefamiliesinprovidingmaterialandemotionalsupportduringchildbirthandpostpartumcare.Inadditiontoregularcheck-upsandpre-conceptioncounselling,expertsrecommendthatexpectingmothersreceivethenecessaryvaccinationstopreventtetanusinboththemotherandchild.EarlydetectionofhepatitisB,syphilisandHIVcanalsohelpavoidperinataldiseasetransmission.Mothers-to-beshouldalsomaintainaproperdiet,withironandfolicacidsupplementationforsufficientnutritionduringpregnancy.Nationwide,Vi?tNamhasbeenimplementingaprogrammecalledNutritioncareduringthefirst1,000daysoflifetopreventmaternalandchildmalnutritionandimproveVietnamesestaturesince2019.AccordingtoDrTr?nThanhD??ng,directoroftheNationalInstituteofNutrition,1,000daysoflifeisafoundationalperiodforachildsphysicalandpsychologicaldevelopment.Duringthispivotalperiod,breastfeedingcampaignscontinuetobeincludedinprenatal,perinatalandpostnatalcare,andareespeciallycrucialfornutritionaldiets.Breastmilkbankshavebeenprovidingcareandtreatmenttothousandsofnewbornseveryyear,primarilyforlowbirthweight,pretermbirthandotherillnesses.Theseservicesalsoreducethenumberofnewbornsrequiringintensivecare,therebyminimisinginfantmortalityrates.Vi?tNamsfirst-everbreastmilkbank,at?àN?ngHospitalforWomenandChildren,hasreceivednearly12,800litresofmilkdonatedfrom618mothers,whichhavebeenprovidedto35,570newbornsinitssevenyearsofoperation.Meanwhile,thefirstbreastmilkbankinVi?tNamsnorthernregion,atQu?ngNinhObstetricsandPaediatricsHospital,hascollectedmorethan5,400litresofmilkdonatedfrom132motherssinceitsestablishmentinMay2019.Breastmilkiscollected,tested,pasteurisedandstoredfromhealthymothersforinfantswhorequireadditionalnutrients.Onalargerscale,theMoHsMaternalandChildHealthDepartmenthasbeenimplementinganinitiativethatguidesobstetricandpaediatrichospitalstoprovidesupportforbreastfeeding,especiallyinearlyessentialnewborncare(EENC)andkangaroomothercare(KMC).Newmotherspracticekangaroomothercare(skin-to-skincontact)withtheirpreterminfantsattheCentralHighlandsGeneralHospital.—VNA/VNSPhotoNguyênDungWhilematernalandchildhealthcarehasseenprogressinrecentyears,expertsbelievethatmorespecificpoliciesandstablefinancialresourcesshouldbemadeavailableforreproductivehealthcare,especiallypre-conceptionscreeningandtesting.Engagementandclosecoordinationbetweenauthorities,thecommunity,andthefamilyarealsokeyfactorsinimprovingthequalityofcarefornewmothersandtheirchildren,whichnotonlyreducematernalandinfantmortalitybutalsocontributetothedevelopmentoffuturegenerations.—VNSDoctorsperformingthecornealtransplantforthepatientN.T.V.,whohadtowaitforalongtimeduetothescarcityofcorneasinthehospitalsTissueBank.VNA/VNSPhoto??cTamHàN?IA65-year-oldblindwomanfromTháiNguyênwasgivenapreciousgift,asadonatedcorneahelpedherregainhersightafteradecadeofblindness.Therecipient,N.T.V.fromTháiNguyên,wasblindinbotheyesfortenyearsduetohereditarycornealdystrophy.DuetothescarcityofcorneasintheTissueBank,shehadtowaitalongtime,dependingheavilyonothersfordailyactivities.Thecornealtransplantlastedabout45minutesandshowedpromisinginitialresults,withtherecipientregaining1/10vision.Shecannowwalkindependently.N.T.V.sdonorwasa75-year-oldwomanwhopassedawayat5.18amonSeptember25.Herson,amilitarydoctor,expressedhiswishtodonatehismotherscorneas.HàN?iEyeHospital2sTissueBankgotacallinformingthemofasonwhowishedtodonatehismotherscorneastohelptheblindseeagain.TheTissueBanksteamquicklymobilisedandtravelledtothelocationtoretrievethecorneas.Th?yD??ng,anofficialfromtheTissueBankatHàN?iEyeHospital2,recalledthatthedonorssonstoodquietlyinthecorner,observingthroughouttheprocedure.Heapproachedonlyafterthecorneaswereretrieved,placinghishandonhismothershair,embracingher,andbreakingdownintears.Heheldhismotheronelasttime,knowinghercorneaswouldbringlighttoothers.Thecorneasweresuccessfullytransplantedtotwopatients,oneatHàN?iEyeHospital2andanotheratMilitaryHospital103.Atherfollow-upvisitfourdaysafterthesurgery,V.wasmovedtotearswhenthebandageswereremoved,andshecouldseeagainaftermorethan10yearsofblindness.Forthepast10years,Icouldonlyseevaguelightandhaddifficultymovingaround.Icouldntevenimaginehowmylovedonesfaceshadchangedovertheyears,shesaid.V.describedherexperiencewithemotion:Ittrulyfeltlikeamiraclehadhappenedtome.WhenIwasinformedthatacorneahadbecomeavailableforme,IwassonervousthatIcouldntsleep.EvenwhenIwasontheoperatingtable,itstillfeltlikeadreamafterwaitingforthousandsofdayswithoutacornea.Afterwakingupfromthesurgery,V.feltarushofexcitement,despitebeingslightlygroggy.Whenthedoctoraskedmetoopenmyeyes,IwasoverjoyedbecauseIhadonlyseenblurrylight,nofacesforovertenyears.Now,Icouldclearlyseeeveryonearoundme.Imbeyondhappy,andallIwantistoreturnhomeandseemyfamilysfacesagain.Imdeeplygratefultothepersonwhogavemethisgiftofsight,andIwilldomybesttotakecareoftheeyesthatweredonatedtome,saidV.HoàngMinhChau,theChairmanoftheMedicalCouncilatHàN?iEyeHospital2,explainedthatwhilethecurrentresultsarepromising,thepatientsconditionwillneedtobemonitoredregularlywithfrequentfollow-ups.Thepatientmustadherestrictlytomedicaladviceregardingdietanddailyactivities,avoidingstrenuousactivityandprotectingtheeyesfromenvironmentalhazardslikedustandimpacts.Chauemphasisedthattheneedfororganandtissuedonations,particularlycorneas,remainshighinVi?tNam,whiletheavailabilityofdonorsislimited.Asinglebrain-deaddonorcanprovidethegiftofsighttotwoblindindividuals.Heurgedthepublictospreadawarenessoftheimportanceofcorneaandorgandonationstocontinueprovidingopportunitiesforthoseinneed.Vi?tNamhasahighdemandforcornealtransplantsduetovariouscauseslikecongenitaldefects,injuries,burnsandinfections.However,corneadonationsremainscarceduetocultural,psychologicalandlegalbarriers.Statisticsindicatethatover30,000peopleinVi?tNamsufferfromcorneal-relatedblindness,waitingfortransplantstorestoretheirsight.Mostofthepatientswaitingforcornealtransplantsareagedbetween30and60,althoughsomepatientsarechildren.SincethefirstcorneadonationinApril2007byNguy?nTh?HoafromNinhBình,therehavebeen963recordedcorneadonationsnationwide,withNinhBìnhandNam??nhprovincesleadingindonations.Corneascanonlyberetrievedafterdeath,andtheoptimalwindowforcollectionis6-8hourspostmortem.Anyone,regardlessofageorgender,candonatetheircorneasafterdeath.Eventhosewithpoorvision,cancerordiabetescandonatetheircorneas.VNSRepresentativesattendtheprojectlaunchingceremony.—VNSPhotoThuTrangHàN?I—Anewtrainingcurriculumoncounter-traffickingandvictimprotectionhasbeendevelopedforfrontlineborderofficers.Thecurriculum,whichincludesthelatestlaws,criminaltrends,andcasefiles,willbedistributedtovariousBorderGuardstationsaspartofatwo-yearprojecttostrengthenVi?tNamslandandseabordersagainsthumantraffickingandrelatedcross-bordercrimes.LaunchedonWednesday,theprojectisoverseenbytheInternationalOrganisationforMigration(IOM)andtheDepartmentofDrugControlandCrimePrevention(DDCCP)undertheVi?tNamBorderGuardCommand,withfundingfromtheUSDepartmentofStatesBureauofInternationalNarcoticsandLawEnforcementAffairs(INL).Thecurriculumwillsupport16trainingworkshopsforover600BorderGuardofficersresponsibleforcounter-crimeandimmigrationcontrolacrossVi?tNam.Equippedwithtechnicaltoolsprovidedbytheproject,officersareexpectedtoimmediatelyapplytheirenhancedskillstotacklecomplextraffickinginpersons(TIP)casesandothercross-bordercrimes,aswellastobetterprotectandsupportvictims.Theinitiativealsoaimstofostercross-bordercollaborationbetweentheVi?tNamBorderGuardandregionalcounterparts,providingaplatformtoshareeffectivestrategies,skills,andpracticalexperiencesininvestigatingandprosecutingcross-bordercrimes.Additionally,theprojecthighlightstrainingincommunicationskillsforfrontlineofficerstoenhancecommunityengagementactivities,withthegoalofpromotingsafemigrationandreducingirregularmigrationamongvulnerablebordercommunities.InternationalOrganisationforMigrationsChiefofMissionParkMi-Hyunggivesaspeechattheceremony.—VNSPhotoThuTrangIOMsChiefofMissionParkMi-Hyungsaid:Facilitatingsafeandorderlycross-borderhumanmobilityformigrantswhilemaintainingbordersecurityandsupportingborderguardsengagementisoneofthecriticalcomponentsinIOMsmandate.Traffickinginpersonsisacomplexglobalproblemthatrequiresacoordinatedresponse.ThisprojectisasignificantpartofIOMsworktosupporttheGovernmentofVi?tNamnotjusttostrengthenitsbordersecurityandmanagementofmigrationflows,butalsotocontributetothecomprehensiveeffortundertheNationalProgrammeonHumanTraffickingPreventionandControl2021-2025andtheNationalImplementationPlanfortheGlobalCompactforSafe,OrderlyandRegularMigration,ofwhichVi?tNamisanactivemember,shesaid.AsVi?tNamseconomypicksupspeedafterthepandemic,thenumberofVietnamesepeoplemigratingtoworkoverseas,hopingforabetterincomeandabetterlife,isincreasing.Takingadvantageofpeoplesneeds,migrantsmugglersandhumantraffickersincreasinglyuseonlineplatformstorecruit,defraud,coerceandexploitvictimsintoworkingatonlinescamcentresspanningjurisdictionallycomplexareasintheSoutheastAsiaregion.AsstatedintheUSTraffickinginPersonsReport2024,sincemid-2022,morethan4,100Vietnamesenationalsexploitedbyonlinescamsyndicateshavebeenrepatriated,andmorecasesarebeingexposed.RyanMcKean,DirectorofINLVi?tNam,said:TheUScommendsVi?tNamonitsupgradetoTier2intheannualUSTraffickinginPersonsReport.CapablefrontlineofficersareessentialtothefightagainsttraffickinginpersonsandthisprojectsupportsVi?tNamBorderGuardofficerswithtrainingandequipmenttodothiscriticaltask.TheVi?tNamBorderGuardplaysaninstrumentalroleinthefightagainstTIPandtheprovisionofprotectionandsupportfortraffickingvictims.Overseeing5,036kmoflandbordersand3,260kmofcoastline,theBorderGuardisattheforefrontofcross-bordercrimepreventionandcontrol.Theyareveryoftenthefirst–andsometimesonly–lawenforcementofficerswithwhomatraffickingvictimmayevercomeintocontact.SeniorColonelV?Xuan??i,DeputyDirectoroftheDDCCP,stated:Internationalcooperationinpreventingandcombattingorganisedandtransnationalcrime,andparticularlytraffickinginpersons,isextremelynecessary.Wehaveeffectivelyimplementedthistaskinthelastfewyears,andwillcontinuetoconductapprovedcooperationactivities,aimingtoenhanceourcollectiveefforttopreventandcombathumantraffickingcrimesinthenearfuture,hesaid.—VNSww88

PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhandotherdelegatespressthebuttonstolaunchtheE-healthandjudicialrecordsprovidedviaVNeID.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChính,whoisChairmanoftheNationalCommitteeforDigitalTransformation,chairedanonlineconferencetoimplementtheexpansionoftheelectronichealthrecordsystemandtheissuanceofjudicialrecordcertificatesviatheappVNeIDnationwide.TheseonlineservicesviaVNeIDhavebeenpilotedsinceApril22inHàN?icapitalcityandthecentralprovinceofTh?aThiên-Hu?.Inhisopeningremarks,PMChínhsaidthattheconferencemarkedanimportantstepinthenationaldigitaltransformationprocess,andinofferingessentialservicesforpeople.ThePMemphasisedthattheultimategoalisbuildingadigitalgovernment,society,andeconomytoservethepeople.Henotedthe13thNationalPartyCongresssResolutionandthePolitburosResolutionNo.52onseveralguidelinesandpoliciesregardingtheproactiveparticipationinthefourthIndustrialRevolutionrequiredtheaccelerationofthedigitaltransformationandthebuildingofadigitalgovernment,digitalsociety,digitalcitizensanddigitaleconomicdevelopment.Todate,digitaltransformationhasreachedeverycornerandeveryhousehold,bringingbenefitstothepublic,heemphasised.AccordingtotheMinistryofPublicSecurity,over32millionelectronichealthrecordshavebeencreatedsofar.Ofthese,morethan14.6millioncitizenshaveintegratedtheire-healthrecordsintoVNeID.TheelectronichealthrecordsystemisexpectedtohelpsaveapproximatelyVN?1.15trillion(US$46.6million)annuallyonthepurchaseofhealthrecordbooksfor230millionpatientvisits,andfacilitateindividualsinproactivelymonitoringtheirhealthrecords,enablingthemtoprovidetheirmedicalhistoriestohealthcareprofessionalsanywhereandanytime.Authoritiessaidthatinthepast,managingpaperwork,carryingoutprocesses,andproducingresultsassociatedwiththenationaldistributionofjudicialrecordcertificatespresentednumerousdifficulties.Peoplehadtowaitinlineforlongperiods,evenwastingdaysgettingthesecertificates.Meanwhile,requestingjudicialrecordcertificateswithVNeIDissimple.Theprocesstakesjustafewminutes,andcertificatescanbereceivedviaemailorpostaldeliverywithouttheneedforin-personvisits.ElectronicjudicialrecordcertificatesonVNeIDoffermultiple-useconvenience,digitalsignatures,andcompliancewithe-transactionlaws,eliminatingtheneedforextrapapercopies.Businessesbenefitfromstreamlinedoperations,particularlyinrecruitmentprocesses,addingvaluetobothemployeesandemployers.ForStateagencies,reusingtheresultsallowselectronicjudicialrecordcertificatestobeimmediatelyappliedtoadministrativeprocedureswithoutrequiringpeopletopresentpapercopies,therebyreducingcostsandsavingmoneyforsociety.Currently,itisestimatedthatimplementingtheissuanceofjudicialrecordcertificatesonVNeIDsavesaroundVN?400billion(416.2million)inadministrativecostseachyear.Peoplecanrequesttheissuanceofjudicialrecordcertificatesontheapp,andforpeoplewithfeewaiverrecords,therequestismadeontheNationalPublicServicePortal.—VNSAstheworldssecond-largestcoffeeproducer,Vi?tNamhastakenconcretestepstopreparefortheEUDRcompliance.—VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhHàN?I—ExpertsbelievethatEUDRcompliancewillnotonlyelevateexportstandardsbutalsoprovideanopportunitytotransformVi?tNamsagriculture,makingitmoresustainableandtransparent,andaligningitwiththecountrysinternationalcommitmentstogreengrowth.ThistopicwasthecentreofdiscussionatatechnicalmeetingonEUDR(EuropeanUnionsRegulationonDeforestation-freeProducts),heldjointlybytheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MARD)andtheNetherlandsEmbassyinVi?tNam.TheeventwasorganisedatapivotaltimeastheEUDRwillcomeintoforceinlessthanthreemonths,onDecember30,2024.Vi?tNamskeyexports,suchascoffee,rubber,andwoodproducts,willbesubjecttotheregulations.Vi?tNamistheworldssecond-largestcoffeeproducer,andthelargestintermsofRobustacoffeeproduction.TheNetherlands,duetoitsgeographicallocation,servesasaprimarygatewayforVietnamesecoffeeintoEurope.Vi?tNamandtheNetherlandshavealsobeenstrategicpartnersinsustainableagricultureforthepastdecade.Thehybrideventgathersnearly200officials,businessrepresentativesandindustryexpertstodiscussVi?tNamspreparationforEUDR.—VNSPhotoNh?tH?ngInhisaddressatthemeeting,JurianMuller,seniorpolicyadvisorfromtheNetherlandsMinistryofAgriculture,Fisheries,FoodSecurityandNature,underscoredthealignmentofEUDRwiththeministrysinternationalstrategy,astheNetherlandsfocusesontransitioningtowardsasustainablefoodsystem,withtheParisandMontrealagreementsonclimatechangeandbiodiversityplayinganimportantrole.IamgladthatsincethepublicationoftheEUDR,Vi?tNamhasworkedveryhardtomeetthenewrequirementssetoutbytheEU,saidMuller.Vi?tNamhastakenaleadingroleinbringingtogetherdifferentstakeholdersandactivelyengagingwiththemtoaddresstheunderlyingissues.RuiLudovino,FirstCounselloroftheEUDelegationtoVi?tNam,said:WehavebeenworkingquiteintensivelywithourVietnamesepartnerstofacilitatecommunicationanddialoguearoundtheEUDR.Atthegovernment,central,andlocallevels,aswellaswithallVietnamesestakeholders,includingbusinessassociationsofcommodities,theengagementhasbeenverywelcomingandpositiveregardingtheimplementationoftheEUDR.Theregulationisexpectedtoraiseconcernsnotonlyforbusinessesandproducersbutalsoforconsumers,ashighcompliancecostswillaffectcommodityprices,accordingtoNguy?n??AnhTu?n,directorgeneralofMARDsInternationalCooperationDepartment.Wehavetoworktokeeppricesatanacceptablelevelwhileensuringrevenue,andtogiveconsumerspeaceofmindwhentheyuseVietnamesecoffeeproducts,headded.IndustryexpertsandofficialsattheeventalsodiscussedthemeasurestakenforEUDRcompliance,thenecessarytaskstobecompletedbeforetheregulationseffectivedate,andaddressedconcernsfrombusinessrepresentatives.—VNS

Large-scalelandslideareainN?Villagehinderssearchandrescueefforts.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Scientistsestimatedthatabout1.6millioncubicmetresofrock,mudandwaterpouredintoN?Village,LàoCaiProvince,injust300secondsoveradistanceof3.6kmduringthedisastrouslandslideonSeptember10,whichleft58peopledead,14injuredandnineothersstillmissing.ThisinformationwasrevealedatascientificseminaronthecausesoftheN?VillagedisasterthattookplaceinHàN?ionWednesdayandalsotouchedonpreventivesolutions.AssociateProfessorNguy?nChauLan,deputyheadoftheDepartmentofGeotechnicalEngineeringattheFacultyofConstruction,UniversityofTransport,saiderosionstartedonSeptember9,butthemudandrockfloodedtheareathenextday.Throughtheapplicationofa3Dmodelcombiningfielddataandsatelliteimages,wevelearnedthefloodtookabout300seconds,orfiveminutes,toflowfromthetopofthemountaindowntothevillage,hesaid.ThelandslideoriginatedfromElephantMountain,about3.6kmfromthevillage.Whilemoving,itwasblocked,forcingthewaterandmudintoanarrowareaonlyabout100mwide,about2kmfromthelandslidesstartingpoint.Thislocationaccidentallycreatedanaturaldam,increasingthefloodingrisk,Lansaid.Atthetimeoftheflood,rainfallintheareawasrecordedat500mmonSeptember9and633mmonSeptember10,withthehourlyrainfallreaching57mm,causingthemudandrock-filledfloodwaterstomoveextremelyquickly,hesaid.HewarnedthatmanygeologicalcrackshaveappearedinmountainousprovincessuchasHàGiangandLàoCai,whichneedresponsemeasurestominimisepotentialdisasters.Oneofthesolutionsmentionedbytheexpertistocoverthecrackswithtarpaulins,combinedwithahorizontaldrainageandconductionsystemtopreventwaterfromseepingdeepintotheground,limitingtheriskoflandslides.Thisissuchasimplemeasurethatlocalitiescanquicklydeploy,thenuseothertechnicalsolutionstohandlethecracks,saidLan.Professor??Minh??candtheresearchteamfromtheDepartmentofGeotechnicalEngineeringandInfrastructureDevelopmentattheFacultyofGeology,UniversityofScience(VietnamNationalUniversity),said:Theterrain,geologicalconditionsandpopulationdistributioncharacteristicsofN?VillagearequitecommoninVi?tNamsmountainousareas.??cnotedthatsomecrackswillnotimmediatelyleadtolandslides.Activitiesonslopinglandcanerasetracesofcracks,butoncecracksappear,theslopewillnotbeabletohealitself,andtheriskoflandslideswillalwaysbelatent.Heproposedearlywarningandactionasshort-termsolutions.Whentheriskoflandslidesreacheslevel1undertheGovernmentsdecree,localauthoritiesneedtorestrictpeopleandvehiclesfromtravelingnearhigh-riskareas.Atlevel2andhigherrisks,vehiclesmustbestrictlyprohibitedwhileresidentsinhigh-riskareasmustberelocatedtosafeplacesandcanonlyreturnwhenthereisnolongeralandslideriskwarning,hesaid.Grassrootsofficersandvolunteerscanbecomeactiveearlydetectionforces,lookingforthewarningsignsoflandslidesandflashfloods,hesaid.Formedium-termsolutions,??cproposedprotectinganddevelopingupstreamforestswhileissuingguidelinesandstrictlycontrollingtheconstructionoftransportation,irrigationandhydropowerprojectsinlandslide-pronesites,hesaid.Asforlong-termsolutions,heproposedcreatingaslopemasterplanandinvestingininfrastructure,aswellasimprovingthequalityoftrainingintheearthsciences.—VNS

ConstructionoftheBaLai8Bridge,thefirstsub-projectofaninter-provincialcoastalroadprojectconnectingB?nTreProvincewiththetwoneighbouringprovincesofTi?nGiangandTràVinh,beganinB?nTreonOctober2.—VNSPhotoNguy?nDi?pB?NTRE—ConstructionoftheBaLai8Bridge,thefirstsub-projectofaninter-provincialcoastalroadprojectconnectingtheC?uLong(Mekong)DeltaprovinceofB?nTrewiththetwoneighbouringprovincesofTi?nGiangandTràVinh,beganonWednesday(October2).SpeakingatthegroundbreakingceremonyinB?nTreforconstructionofthebridge,PermanentDeputyPrimeMinisterNguy?nHoàBìnhsaidtheGovernmenthasallocatedlargeamountsofinvestmentcapitaltodevelopthecountrystransportinfrastructureingeneralandtheMekongDeltaregioninparticular.Thecommencementoftheconstructionofthisbridgeprojectisaveryimportanttoacceleratetheprocessofstartingworkontheinter-provincialcoastalroadproject,ensuringsynchronousinvestmentintransmissioninfrastructureandsmoothtrafficconnectionforthecoastalareaintheregion,hesaid.ChairmanofB?nTreProvincePeoplesCommitteeTr?nNg?cTamsaidthenewbridgeisoneofitsmajor,keytransportprojects.PermanentDeputyPrimeMinisterNguy?nHoàBìnhattendedthegroundbreakingceremonyforconstructionofBaLai8BridgeinB?nTreProvinceonOctober2.—VNSPhotoNguy?nDi?pThebridgewillbenearly528mlong,andhavemotorvehiclelanesandtwomixedlanes,withadesignedspeedof80kmperhour.TotalinvestmentreachesVN?2.3trillion(US$99.5million),includingVN?1.5trillion($65million)sourcedfromthecentralbudget.Itisexpectedtobecompletedbytheendof2025.Oncethebridgeaswellastheinter-provincialcoastalroadprojectarecompleted,theywillcontributetoenhancinginter-regionalconnectivity,creatingadvantagesfordevelopmentandeconomictradeforMekongDeltaprovinces,andmakingabreakthroughintheprovincessocio-economicdevelopment,hesaid.Thegroundbreakingceremonyisoneoftheeventswithintheframeworkofthe2024B?nTreProvincesInvestmentPromotionConferencethemedB?nTre-EasternvisionandpotentialforsustainabledevelopmentbeingheldfromOctober2to3.Inter-provincialcoastalroadTheinter-provincialcoastalroadprojectwillcovernearly53kmandcrossthreemajorrivers-theTi?n,HàmLu?ng,andC?Chiên.TheroadwillstartatprovincialroadNo.877BinTi?nGiangProvincesTanPhú??ngDistrictandendatTh?nhPhúBridgeinTràVinhProvincesChauThànhDistrict.TheinvestmentwillbesourcedfromtheOfficialDevelopmentAssistancefund,whichsupportsthesustainabledevelopmentoftheMekongDelta,andtheprovincialbudget.Theprojectwillbedividedintotwophases.Thefirstphasewillrunfromnowuntil2025andwillincludetheconstructionof13bridgesandatwo-laneroadwithaninvestmentofmorethanVN?13trillion($563million).After2025,theroadwillbeupgraded,withtheroadsurfaceexpanded.TotalinvestmentforthisphasewillbeVN?15trillion($650million).TheB?nTreProvincecoastalroadispartofthe740kmsouthernroadprojectthatstretchesfromHàTiênCityinKiênGiangProvince,toHCMCity.ItwasapprovedbytheGovernment13yearsagoandrunsthroughthesevenMekongprovincesofTi?nGiang,B?nTre,TràVinh,SócTr?ng,B?cLiêu,CàMau,andKiênGiang.B?nTreProvincecoastalroadisthemeetingpointofnationaltransportprojects.Thetransportnetworkisexpectedtobecompletedinthe2025-30periodandwillformtheLongXuyênquadrangleareatoconnectwiththeHCMCity-TrungL??ng-M?Thu?n-C?nTh?expresswaynetwork.TheroadwillshortenthedistancebetweenMekongDeltaprovincesandHCMCityandhelpreducetrafficcongestionandaccidents.—VNSLocalauthoritiesandpersoneladdressingthebreachesonB?cH?ngH?iirrigationsysteminthenorthernprovinceofH?iD??ngonSeptember12,amidseverefloodingintheaftermathoftyphoonYagi.—VNA/VNSPhotoM?nhMinhHàN?I—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhhasorderedgreaterattentiontotheoperationandregulationofthewaterlevelsathydropowerreservoirsinnorthernlocalitiestoensuresafetyofthedykesystemsandminimisedamageduetofloodsindownstreamareas.InadispatchsenttoleadersoftheMinistriesofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment,IndustryandTrade,andS?nLa,LaiChau,HoàBình,?i?nBiên,HàGiang,LàoCai,YênBái,CaoB?ng,B?cK?n,TuyênQuang,andNinhBìnhprovincesaswellastheVi?tNamElectricity,thePMnotedthatTyphoonYagi,thethirdstormintheEastSea(internationallyknownasSouthChinaSea)sofarthisyear,carriedtorrentialrainstothenorthernregion,forcingmanyhydropowerreservoirsinthenorthernmidlandandmountainousareastourgentlydischargewatertoensurethesafetyofhydroelectricprojects.Currently,thewaterleveldownstreamofriversintheRedRiver-TháiBìnhRiverbasinishigh,withaboveLevel-3alertsinsomeplaces,whilesomeriversareclosetoorhaveexceededhistoricallevels,threateningthesafetyofthedikesystems,causingfloodinginmanyresidentialareas,schools,medicalfacilities,andotheressentialinfrastructure.Inordertominimiseimpactfromfloodingtopeopleslifeandproductionandensureutmostsafetyforreservoirs,thePMrequestedtheMinistersofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment,andIndustryandTradetocoordinatewiththechairpersonsoftheabove-mentionedlocalitiestodirecttheoperatorsofreservoirstoregularlymonitorthedevelopmentsofrainandfloodsinthebasin,focusingonoperatingandregulatingreservoirs,flexiblycutting,reducing,andslowingdownfloodstothedownstream,whileensuringsafetyforhydropowerplantsandstrictlyfollowingtheinter-reservoiroperationprocedure.Reservoiroperatorsmuststrictlyfollowreportingregulations,providinginformationtoauthorisedagenciesoflocalities,theMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentandtheMinistryofIndustryandTradetohelpthemtaketimelyresponsemeasuresinemergencycircumstances,theGovernmentleaderasked.Theywererequestedtocloselycooperatewithauthoritiesinthedownstreamareaofthedamandrelevantagenciestostrictlynotifyandwarnlocalpeopleofflooddevelopmentsandfloodcontroloperations,enablingthemtoapplypreventivemeasures.PMChínhassignedDeputyPMTr?nH?ngHàtotakethechargeofdirectingministriesandlocalitiestoimplementthisdispatch.OnSeptember12,theNationalCentreforHydro-MeteorologicalForecastingsaidthatwaterinmanyrivers,includingThao,L?,C?u,L?cNam,TháiBình,HoàngLongandH?ng(Red)Riversisreceding.However,thefloodlevelintheH?ng-TháiBìnhriversystemremainshigh,recedingslowly,withariskoffloodingandothernaturaldisasters.Accordingtoexperts,theprocessoffloodeasingintheH?ngRiversystemisslow.Therefore,floodinginriversideareasinthecomingdaysislikelytolingeroninlow-lyingareasofHàN?i,B?cGiang,TháiNguyên,NinhBình,Nam??nh,TháiBình,HàNam,andH?iD??ng.ProlongedhighfloodlevelscancauserisksofoverflowingandlandslidesinriversidedykesinHàN?i,HàNam,Nam??nh,H?iD??ng,H?ngYên,TháiBình,andNinhBình,whilerisksofflashfloodsandlandslidesremaininthemountainousareasofthenorth,theywarned.—VNS

RescueandsearchunitsatthelandslideinB?cHàDistrict,thenorthernprovinceofLàoCaiProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoGENEVA—TheSwissAgencyforDevelopmentandCooperation(SDC)hasdispatchedateamofsixexpertsfromtheSwissHumanitarianAidUnittoVi?tNamandearmark1millionCHF(aboutUS$1.1million)tosupportpeopleaffectedbyTyphoonYagiinthisSoutheastAsiancountry.Theteam,comprisingspecialistsinwaterandsanitation,emergencyshelter,anddisasterriskreduction,willassisttheVietnameseauthoritiesinassessingneedsandformulatingshort-andmedium-termresponses,SDCsaidinapressreleaseonSeptember12.TheSDCisalsoarrangingtosendreliefsupplies,including300familytentsandtwowaterdistributionsystemscapableofserving10,000people.Intheimmediateterm,theSDCisliaisingwiththeAssociationofSoutheastAsianNations(ASEAN)todeliveressentialgoodsfinancedbySwitzerlandtotheaffectedareas.The1millionCHF-assistanceisoneofthelargestcontributorstotheDisasterResponseEmergencyFundoftheInternationalFederationofRedCrossandRedCrescentSocieties(IFRC-DREF),whichhaslikewisereleasedfundstosupportreliefoperations.Vi?tNamisaprioritycountryfortheStateSecretariatforEconomicAffairs(SECO),whichiscurrentlyexploringthereallocationofsomeofitsactivitiestoaddresstheneedsarisingfromthedisaster.TyphoonYagihaswreakedhavocinseveralSoutheastAsiancountries.Violentwinds–followedbytorrentialrainfall–batteredthePhilippines,ChinaandthenVi?tNam,causingwidespreaddestruction.ThesevereweatherinundatedmanylocalitiesofVi?tNamandtriggeredmajorlandslideswithmountainousregionsbeingparticularlyhard-hit.Giventhemagnitudeoftherequirements,theVietnameseauthoritiesissuedanappealforinternationalaid.Theevacuationsandotherpreventivemeasuresimplementedbytheauthoritieshavehelpedtominimisethenumberofvictims.Nevertheless,thousandsofpeoplerequiredevacuation,andtodate,severalhundredpeoplearereporteddeadormissing.Vi?tNamhasnotfacedanaturalcatastropheofthismagnitudeinoverthreedecades,accordingtoSDC.AmbassadorofSwitzerlandThomasGasshasextendedsympathiestothedisaster,sayingthatAsVietnamfacesoneofitsmostdifficultchallengesinrecenttime,Switzerlandexpressesitscondolencesandcompassion.Werecognizeyourpain,yourlossandyourcourage.Werecommittedtostandingshouldertoshoulderwithyouasyourebuildyourlivesandcommunities.—VNSPartyGeneralSecretaryandStatePresidentT?LamspeaksatthemeetingwiththeprovincialPartyCommitteetoovercometyphoonYagiaftermath.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—PartyGeneralSecretaryandStatePresidentT?LamarrivedinthenorthernprovinceofPhúTh?inthelateafternoonofThursdaytoinspectfloodpreventionandcontroleffortsandtoprovidesupportandencouragementtoresidentsaffectedbyTyphoonYagiandsubsequentflooding.AccordingtoareportoftheprovincialPartyCommitteesstandingboard,typhoon-inducedheavyrainsfromSeptember7to11,combinedwithwaterreleasedfromupstreamreservoirs,causedrapidrisesinriverlevelsacrosstheprovinceandwidespreadflooding.Thenaturaldisasterresultedintwodeaths,seveninjuries,andninemissingpersonssofar.Emergencyevacuationswerecarriedoutfor7,015householdsduetofloodingandlandslides.Severalmedical,educational,andculturalfacilitiesalsosustaineddamage.Agriculturallossesincluded6,400hectaresofriceandcropssubmergedorflattened,127hectaresofforestsuprooted,and2,000hectaresofaquacultureareaswerebreachedordestroyed.Transportinfrastructurewasseverelyimpacted,withlandslidescoveringroadwaysandtheT7pierandtwospansofPhongChauBridgeonNationalHighway32Ccollapsed.ThepreliminaryestimateoftotaldamageisoverVN?250billion(US$10.17million)(excludingdamagetothePhongChauBridge).Soldiershelpresidentsclearstreetschokedwithdebrisandmud.VNA/VNSPhotoAtthemeeting,provincialleadersrequestedsupportfromthecentralgovernmentfortheconstructionofanewbridgetoreplacetheoldPhongChau,thereinforcementandupgradingofweakdikesections,andimprovementstowavebarriersalongtheThaoRiversleftandrightbanks.Additionally,theycalledforassistanceinmaterials,equipment,andresourcesfordisasterpreventionandrescueefforts.OnbehalfofthePartyandState,thetopleaderexpresseddeepsympathyandsolidaritywiththelocalvictims.Henotedthatthehighestpriorityforallflood-hitlocalitiesistorescuepeople,withthearmedforcesplayingacentralrole.Allavailableresources,equipment,andsci-techapplicationsshouldbeutilisedtosearchforthemissingandensureabsolutesafetyforrescueforces,whileeffortsshouldalsobemadetocareforfloodvictims,earlyrestorethesupplyofwater,electricityandtelecomsservices,resumeproduction,businessandnormalsocialactivities.Volunteerstransportfoodandessentialsuppliestohelpisolatedresidentsintheflood-hitareainPhúTh?Province.VNA/VNSPhotoRegardingPhúTh?sproposals,thePartyGeneralSecretaryandPresidenthighlightedtheimportanceofthePhongChauBridge,notonlyforPhúTh?butalsoforneighbouringprovinces,andstatedthatitsreconstructionmustbeprioritisedandcompletedassoonaspossible.ConcerningthereinforcementofvulnerabledikesectionsalongtheThaoRiver,heinstructedtheprovincetoresearchandimplementstructurescapableofwithstandingsevereweathereventstoensurethesafetyoflocalresidents.Onthisoccasion,thetopleaderpresentedgiftstoPhúTh?,whiletheCentralCommitteeoftheVi?tNamFatherlandFrontdonatedVN?30billion\toaidtheprovincesrecoveryefforts.—VNS

AboatmadefromatractorinCh??ngM?Districttohelplocalsnavigatethefloodwater.Photocafef.vnHàN?IItwas9.30pmonSeptember10whenresidentsinHàN?issub-urbandistrictofCh??ngM?begantoevacuateasthefloodwatersfromtheBùiRiverrose.Thelocalradiostationkeptcallingonvillagerstoevacuate.BùiNg?cBình,headofNamHàiVillagesaid:Duringthesedays,whenthefloodwaterrises,wearealwaysondutyallnighttohelplocals.Eveninthemiddleofthenight,wewillrespondpromptlytocallsinordertoassistindividualswithmovingtheirpossessionsandevacuating.Duringthedaysofflooding,Bìnhandhisneighbourshaveconvertedarecentlyacquiredtractorathisresidenceintoamovablevehicletonavigatethroughthevillage.Thelocalsbuiltastructureandplacedaboatontopofitbecausethetractorschassisisveryhighanditcanoperateinsituationswheretheroadisflooded.ItisnowausefulmodeoftransportationinplaceslikeCh??ngM?thatexperiencefloodingonaregularbasis.Whensittingonit,peoplecanfeelsecure,Bìnhadded.HehasusedthemakeshiftboattotakeNamPh??ngTi?nCommuneslocalsaroundthevillage.AretiredsoldierinQu?cOaiDistrictcreatedahandmadeboatusinghouseholdwoodenbarsandmetalcontainers.OnSeptember11,theinventorsdaughter,Nguy?nKhánh,uploadedaboattestingvideoclipontheinternet.ShesaidduetotheimpactofTyphoonYagi,thevillagewheresheandherfamilieslivehasbeeninundated.30cmofwaterclimbedto60–70cmofwater.Peoplesroutinesweredisturbed,makingitchallengingtogoaround.Duetothecontinuousrain,someplacesrecordedwaisthighwater.Mostlocalpeoplehavestayedindoorsandouttheirpropertiesathigherplaces,shesaid.Aboatmadefromwoodenbarsandbarrelswasconstructedtohelpduringfloods.Thewomaninthephotousesabroomtowadethroughthefloodwater.PhotofromNguy?nKhánhsvideoMyfatherisaretiredengineer.Hefixesalotofhomeobjectsandisprettyskilledatit.TherehadbeennoindicationofthewaterleveldroppingbySeptember11afternoon.Giventhatthewaterlevelwasstillhigh,hedevisedahandmadeboatfromwoodenbarsandcorrugatedironboxesfoundinthehouse.NumeroustouchingstoriesfrompeopleaffectedbyfloodinginHàN?ihavewarmedourheartsonthesedays.AnotherlocalinNamH?iVillage,Ch??ngM?District,letsherneighboursparktheircarsinheryardforfree.Sincethefloodwatersrose,hundredsofmotorcycleshavebeenparkedatherhouse.Nguy?nTh?Xuansaidshestartedlettingpeopleleavetheirmotorbikesatherhousein2008,whenthefloodwatersbegantorise.Everyyear,peoplebringtheirmotorcyclesheretoparkwhenthewaterrisesandfloodstheneighbourhood,shesaid.Eventhoughtheyardinfrontofmyhousewasunpavedandthewaterlevelwashalfwayupthewheelafewyearsago,alotofpeoplecontinuedtoparktheirbikesthere.Nowtheyardhasbeenraisedandpavedrecently.Thereisnolongerflood.ThepeoplewhobringtheirmotorbikesheretoparkaremainlyfromNhanLyandNamH?ivillages.Manypeoplekeeptellingmetochargefeesandtaketickets,butIcantdothat.Whenpeopleareintrouble,theyreallyneedhelpfromeveryone.Idonthavemuchmoney,soIcanonlyhelpthemalittlebytakingthisaction.VNSAviewofTanThu?nHamletin??t??DistrictsLongTanCommuneinBàR?a–V?ngTàuProvince.Ithasthelargestnumberofethnicpeopleinahamletintheprovince,having134Ch?Rohouseholdswithmorethan500people.—VNA/VNSPhotoHoàngNh?BàR?A–V?NGTàU—ThelivesofethnicpeopleinBàR?a–V?ngTàuProvincehaveimprovedsignificantlyastheprovincehasimplementedvarioussupportpoliciesforthem.Thesoutheastprovincehasinvestedininfrastructurefacilitiesforethnicpeopleandassistedthemtohavestablelivelihoodsandhouses.Theprovincehasnearly9,000ethnichouseholdswithatotalof26,000peoplebelongingto36ethnicminorities.TheyaremostlyHoa,Khmer,Tày,NùngandCh?Ropeople.Underthenationaltargetprogrammeforsocio-economicdevelopmentinethnicminorityandmountainousareasin2021-25implementedinBàR?a–V?ngTàu,theprovincespentmorethanVN?280billion(US$11.4million)in2023andthefirstsevenmonthsofthisyeartosupportethnicpeopleandtoinvestininfrastructurefacilitiesintheirlivingareas.Duringtheperiod,itbuilt23transportprojectsinethnicpeoplelivingareas,built187newhousesandrepaired178housesforethnichouseholds,assisted218ethnichouseholdstoaccesstapwaterand100householdstohaveaccesstopower.Italsohelpedpoorandnear-poorethnichouseholdsbreedanimalsandadvocatedtheLawonDrugPreventionandControltoethnicpeople.Ittookmeasurestosupporteducationandtrainingforallethnicstudents,includinggivingfreetextbooksandnotebooksworthVN?9.2billion($375,000)for15,437studentsin2022-23.D??ngQu?cKhánhsfamily,aCh?RoethnichouseholdinChau??cDistricts?áB?cCommune,hasadifficultlifeandlocalauthoritiesgavehisfamilyVN?75million($3,000)tobuildahouselastyear.Thesupportforbuildinganewhousemademyfamilyslifemorestable.Myfamilyisgratefulthatlocalauthoritiestakecareofethnicpeople,hesaid.Khánhmarriedin2013andhisparentsgavehimapieceofland,buthisfamilyslifewasdifficultbecauseheandhiswifehadunstablework,sotheycouldonlymakeatemporaryhousewithtarpaulinwallsandcorrugatedironroofs.Withthesupportpoliciesforethnicpeople,allcommuneswhereethnicpeoplelivehavebeenrecognisedasnew-styleruralareas.Upto99.8percentofethnichouseholdshaveaccesstonationalpowergridsandallethnichouseholdshavehygienicwaterfordailyuse.Hu?nhThànhQuy,aHoaethnicpersoninPhúM?TownsS?ngXoàiCommune,hasbeensupportedbylocalauthoritiestoaccesstapwaterfordailyhouseholduse.Thesupplyoftapwaterisstable,andthishelpsmetoproactivelysecureirrigationwaterformy2haorchardthatgrowsdurianandgrapefruit,hesaid.EffortsEthnicpeopleintheprovincehavemadeeffortstodevelopagriculturalproductionandimproveincomes.Theyhaveparticipatedinco-operativestoincreaseproductionefficiencyandaccesssoftloanstodeveloptheirproductionandbusiness.VoòngC?ngM?nh,aHoaethnicpersoninPhúM?TownsS?ngXoàiCommune,participatedinH?cD?chGreenSkinandPinkFleshGrapefruitco-operativewhenitwasestablishedin2022andhasgotmanybenefitsfrombeingamember.Theco-operativeoftenorganisesmeetingstoshareexperiencesandtechniquesofgrowinggrapefruitsoIlearnmanygoodtechniques,andthishelpsimprovemyfruityield.Theco-operativealsobuysgrapefruitssoIfeelsecureaboutbuyers,hesaid.HesometimessellsgrapefruitsatahighpriceofuptoVN?30,000akilo,VN?5,000higherthansellingtotraders,hesaid.Hehasexpandedhisorchardfrom1hato3hanow.Theco-operativehas40members,including15ethnicones,andthesemembershaveanincomebetweenVN?300milliontoVN?2billion($12,200–81,000)ayear.Ng?HùngLy,deputyheadofthePhúM?TownsBureauforEthnicMinorityAffairs,saidmanyethnichouseholdsinS?ngXoàiCommunehadengagedinagriculturalproductionandhadbecomewealthy.Theyhadbuiltconcretespacioushousesandinvestedintheirchildrenseducation,hesaid.Underthenationaltargetprogrammeforsocio-economicdevelopmentinethnicminorityandmountainousareasin2021-25,theprovincessocial-politicalorganisationshavetakenvariousmeasurestoassistethnicpeople.TheprovincesWomensUnion,forinstance,hasimplementedProject8torealisegenderequalityandaddressurgentissuesfacedbywomenandchildren,whichispartofthenationaltargetprogramme.Undertheproject,theprovincesWomensUnionsatalllevelshelped354ethnicmembersborrowsoftloansworthatotalofVN?15.8billion($640,000)fromtheVi?tNamBankforSocialPoliciestodevelopagriculturalproductionandbusinessin2021-23.Duringtheperiod,theprojectalsohelped853ethnicwomenmemberstoborrowVN?312million($12,700)fromlocalWomensSavingGroups.—VNS