PMPh?mMinhChínhvisitedarundownapartmentbuildinginNg?Quy?nDistrict,H?iPhòngCity,onSunday.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?IPHòNG—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhandaworkingdelegationonSeptember8afternoonvisitedtoassessthesituationandrecoveryeffortsaftertyphoonYagidevastatedtheportcityofH?iPhòng.H?iPhòng,alongwithQu?ngNinh,arecoastallocalitiesthatborethebruntofthepowerfulstormasitmadelandfallyesterday.DuringavisittoA7residentialcomplex,builtinthe1960sinV?nM?Ward,Ng?Quy?nDistrict,theGovernmentleadercommendedthecitysauthoritiesandlocalresidentsforsuccessfullyevacuatingallinhabitantstosafeplaces.Heurgedthelocalauthoritiestofindsuitablepermanenthousingforthedisplacedresidents,ensuringthattheirlegalrightsandbenefitsareprotected,andthatnooneisleftwithoutaplacetolive.ThePMalsoinstructedthecitysadministrationtoconductathoroughreviewofalloldapartmentbuildingsintheareaandtopromptlyrelocateresidentsfromseverelydeteriorated,unsafe,andunsanitarybuildingstonew,safeaccommodationplaces.Heemphasisedtheimportanceofprovidingpurchaseorleaseoptionsthatprotectresidentslegalrightsandbenefits,inaccordancewithhousinglaws,undertheprincipleofharmonisingbenefits,sharingrisks.Afterthat,thePMandhisdelegationmetwithH?iPhònCitysleaderstoassessthesituationandtheeffectivenessofthepost-typhoonrecoveryefforts.Accordingtothereportpresentedatthemeeting,asof12:00pmonSeptember8,typhoonYagihadresultedintwodeathsand18injuriesinH?iPhòngCity,withnumerousstreetsandroadsblockedbyfallentrees,communicationlinesdisrupted;andseveretrafficcongestionoccurring.Mostareasexperiencedpoweroutagestoensuresafetyorduetolinefailures.Thetyphoonalsodamaged528houses,128schools,13healthcarefacilities,104offices,48hectaresofaquaculturefarms,andover16,735hectaresofriceandothercrops.PMChínhpraisedthelocalauthoritiesandpeoplefortheirstrictimplementationofdirectivesandguidelinesontyphoonpreventionandmitigationmeasures,whichhelpedminimisedamageandenablepromptrecoveryefforts.HeinstructedH?iPhòngtoreviewandprovidesupportforfamilieswholostmembersorwereinjuredduetothetyphoon,toreassessandrecordalldamageforeffectivesupportandrecoveryefforts,toensureenvironmentalsanitation,torestoretraffic,andtoimmediatelyaddresspoweroutagesandinternetdisruptions.ThePMalsohighlightedtheimportanceofrepairingdamageateducationalandhealthcarefacilitiestoensurethatallstudentshaveclassroomsandthatnoresidentiswithoutaccesstomedicalservices.Agreeingtoaddressthecitysproposalsandrequests,theleaderapprovedacentralgovernmentsupportpackageofVN?100billion(US$4.62million)tohelpitrecoverfromthedisasterandreturntonormalityassoonaspossible.—VNS

TrungGi?Commune,SócS?nDistrictinHàN?iwasunderwateronWednesdayaswaterlevelonRedRiverrises.—VNA/VNSPhotoThanhTùngHàN?I—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhonWednesdayaskedministries,agenciesandlocalitiestoworkaroundtheclockinresponsetoemergenciesduetothecomplexfloodingsituationinnortherncitiesandprovincesfollowingTyphoonYagi.Speakingbeforeameetingofpermanentcabinetmembersonlaw-building,thePMnotedthatpost-typhoonfloodsandlandslideshadleft324peopledeadandmissingasof5.30pmWednesday,andstressedthatpeopleshealthandlifemustbeputfirstandforemost.TheGovernmentleaderorderedtheengagementoftheentirepoliticalsystemandtheemploymentofallmeasurestocopewithfloodsandlandslides.HeaskedtheMinistryofNationalDefence,theMinistryofPublicSecurity,agencies,andthelocalitiesnotaffectedbyYagitosupportthosehitbythetyphoonandworktogethertodealwithitsaftermath.Allagenciesmusthaveshiftsavailablearoundtheclocktorespondtoemergenciesontime.ThePMassignedDeputyPMsandsomeministerstovisitlocalitiesandinstructthereliefeffortsthere.Heaskedthattheauthoritiesfocusonsearchandrescueefforts,lookingforthevictimsandthemissing,treatingtheinjured,arrangingfuneralsforthedeceasedvictimsandquicklystablisethesituation.Hestressedthatnecessities,especiallyfood,freshwaterandmedicines,mustbedeliveredtocommunitiesisolatedbyflooding.PMChínhalsourgedkeepingaclosewatchonthesituationatdikesandreservoirsandareaspronetolandslidesandflashfloodsandspeedinguptheevacuationofresidentsinriskyareastosafegrounds.Hesuggestedloanincentivesinsupportofpeopleandhouseholdbusinessesinrestoringproductionandbusinessandassistingpeopleinstabilisingtheirlives,alongwithincreasingthesupplyofproductionmaterialsandcontrollingthemarket,especiallytopreventpriceinflationandothermarketmanipulationtactics.Agenciesandlocalitieswererequestedtoassessflooddamage,cutadministrativeproceduresandquicklyallocatereservestoresidents.PMChínhalsorequestedmediaagenciestoprovideupdatesontheevolvingsituationofrainandfloods,whileenhancinginformationonadvisoriesandskillsguidanceforthepublictoprevent,combat,adaptandrecoverfromtheaftermathofstormsandfloods,andtorestorelife,production,andbusinessactivities.TheMinistryofPlanningandInvestmentistaskedwithdevelopingaprogrammetoaddresstheconsequencesoftyphoonYagi,aswellasrain,floods,landslides,andinundation.Thisprogrammeshouldproposemechanismsandpoliciestosupportresidents,privateenterprises,individualbusinesshouseholds,andcooperativesinrecoveringtheirproductionandbusinessactivities;mechanismsandpoliciesforaffectedagenciesandlocalities;andpoliciesforrestoringdamagedinfrastructurecausedbystorms,floods,andlandslides.Inparticular,itshouldestablishmechanismstomobilisemaximumresourcesfromtheState,thepeople,businesses,andtheentiresocietytoovercometheconsequencesofthetyphoonandrain,floods,landslides,andinundationcausedbyresidualeffects.—VNSFloodingcausedbyoverflowingL?RiverinTuyênQuangProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—DeputyMinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentNguy?nHoàngHi?ponWednesdayafternoonconfirmedthatChinahadnotifiedVi?tNamofitsplantoreleasewaterfromahydropowerdamupstreamoftheL?River.TheL?River,originatingfromChinasYunnan,flowsintoVi?tNamatHàGiangProvinceandthroughTuyênQuangandPhúTh?provinces.ItisalsoatributaryoftheRedRiver.Theyhavesentusawrittennoticeearlyontoallowustimetoprepare.Thedischargerateissmall,only250cu.mpersecond,sowhileithasanimpact,itwillnotsignificantlyaffectdownstreamfloodinginVi?tNam,theofficialtoldtheVi?tNamGovernmentPortal,amidconcernsthatfurtherdischargeswillexacerbatethefloodingsituationinthenorthernmountainousareas.Hi?pstatedthattheaveragedischargerateofonespillwayattheHòaBìnhHydropowerPlantis1,800cu.mpersecond,soChinasreleaseisrelativelylow.Alsorelatedtothemove,theVietnameseforeignministrysaidthatwhileChinasupportsfloodpreventioninVi?tNam,duetoheavyrainfalloverseveraldays,thewaterlevelofMalutanghydropowerdaminChinahasrisensignificantly,posingariskofdamfailure,whichwouldresultincatastrophicdamagesforbothcountries.Aftercarefulconsideration,ChinahasinformedtheborderprovinceofHàGianginVi?tNamthatitplanstoreleasewaterfromthethedamfrom3:00pmonSeptember11to2pmonSeptember12,withamaximumdischargevolumeof250cu.mpersecond.FollowingdiscussionswithVi?tNamsauthorities,Chinahasagreedtoreducethemaximumdischargevolumedownto200cu.manddelaythereleasetimeto4:30pmonSeptember11.Chinaalsostatedthatithasinstructedrelevantlocalitiestoensurethatthedischargeiskepttotheminimumnecessarytoensurethedamssafety.ThePeoplesCommitteeofHàGiangProvincehasalsoissuedanemergencyresponseplantoprepareforthepotentialimpactsofthewaterreleasefromChinashydropowerplant.Toproactivelyrespondandminimisedamagefromtheincreasedwaterlevelsthatcouldcausefloodinginthecity,ChairmanoftheHàGiangCityPeoplesCommitteeinstructedthecommunesandwards(Ng?c???ng,Ph??ng??,Ph??ngThi?n,QuangTrung,MinhKhai,Nguy?nTr?i,Tr?nPhú)tocloselymonitortheupdatesonthewaterreleaseandimplementdisasterresponseplanstominimiseanypotentialdamage.Provincesdownstreamofmajorriversshouldremainonhighalertforfloodingandensurethesafetyofdikes,aswaterlevelscontinuetorise,Hi?pnoted.Asof3pmonSeptember11,HòaBìnhHydropowerPlanthasclosedallitsspillways,whileTuyênQuangHydropowerPlantstillhasfourbottomoutletsopen.OnTuesday,theMinistryofForeignAffairssaidithascommunicatedwiththeChinesesidetomakesureChinastrictlyregulatetheflowofwaterfromtheupperreachesoftheRedRivertodownstreamregions,whileVi?tNamdealswithseverefloodingandlandslidesinthewakeofpowerfulTyphoonYagifromlastweekend.RegardingtheupperreachesoftheYuan/RedRiver,Chinaconfirmedthatnoneofitshydropowerplantsordamsarereleasingwater,theforeignministryadded.—VNS

HeavyfloodinghasrenderedLiênNinhPrimarySchoolinThanhTrìDistrictinaccessible,preventingstudentsfromattendingin-personclasses.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—SchoolsinHàN?iCityandseveralnorthernprovinceshavesuspendedin-personclassesinresponsetoheavyrainfallcausedbyTyphoonYagianditsaftermath.InHàN?i,126schoolsacrossthecityhaltedclassesasofSeptember11.OnenotableexampleisNgh?aD?ngPrimarySchoolinPhúcXáWard,Ba?ìnhDistrict,which,givenitsproximitytotheRedRiver,hasswitchedentirelytoonlinecoursestoensurethesafetyofitsstudents.InBaVìDistrict,severalschoolsinMinhChauCommunehavefullytransitionedtoremotelearning,whileothersshiftedtoamixofonlineandfacetofaceteaching.DirectoroftheHàN?iDepartmentofEducationandTrainingTr?nTh?C??nghasinstructedschoolsinthecitytoputthesafetyoftheirstudentsandstafffirst.Hemandatedthatdistrict-leveleducationofficialsandschooladministratorswouldnotresumein-personclassesuntilitisabsolutelysafetodoso.InHàNamandH?ngYênprovinces,educationauthoritieshavefollowedsuit,requestingschoolclosuresamidheavyrainsandfloodingsinceSeptember11.DirectoroftheHàNamDepartmentofEducationandTrainingPh?mAnhTu?nsaidschoolshadbeeninstructedtohaltoperations,withplansforcatch-upclassestobearrangedlater.Meanwhile,studentsandteachersinH?ngYênhavebeengivenabreakonSeptember11and12.Duetotherisingwaters,whichreached7.02mattheH?ngYênhydrometricstationat9amonSeptember11,theH?ngYênProvinceSteeringCommitteeforDisasterPreventionandRescuehasdeclaredaLevel3alertfortheleftbankoftheRedRiver.—VNSTr?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,evenafterlandfallonHainan,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.—VNSThewaterlevelsoftheRedRiverinHàN?iarethehighesttheyhavebeenfor20years.—VNA/VNSPhotosHàN?I—Torrentialrain,combinedwithcontinuousrisinglevelsoftheRedRiveronWednesday,causedseverefloodinginsomestreetsandurbanareasinHàN?i,significantlyaffectingthelivesandlivelihoodsofmanyresidents.AreassuchasM??ình2infrontofthePhúM?villagegate,K?V?nearV?market,Tri?uKhúc,C?uB??ufromKHospitaltoYênXáCanal,Th?ngLongAvenueintheintersectionwithLêTr?ngT?n,andtheYênNgh?aunderpassfromYênNgh?aBusStationtoBaLaintersectionwereallsubmerged.Thedownpouralsoledtofloodingonvariousdowntownstreets,makingtrafficchallenging.Byaround7amonWednesday,thePhápVan–C?uGi?ExpresswayinDuyênTháiCommuneinTh??ngTínDistrictwasfloodedinbothdirections,hinderingtrafficandposingathreattomanyvehicles,particularlycarswithlowgroundclearance.DriversmaketheirwaythroughthewaterinV?nQuánWardinHà??ngDistrictonWednesday.Additionally,thelargevolumeofrainwateroverwhelmeddrainagesystems,resultinginseverefloodinginurbanareasandapartmentcomplexeslikeGeleximcoAreaAonLêTr?ngT?ninHoài??cDistrictandEcohome3inB?cT?LiêmDistrict.??ngV?nTuan,aresidentofAnKhánhCommuneinHoài??cDistrict,saidthatmanyfamilieswereusingsandbagsandothermaterialstotryandblockwaterfromenteringtheirhomes.Severalcars,especiallythosewithlowclearance,weresubmergedandmanypropertieshadbeendamaged.NhanLyVillageinNamPh??ngTi?nCommune,Ch??ngM?Districtiscoveredbyfloodwater.AccordingtotheDirectoroftheNationalCentreforHydrometeorologicalForecasting,MaiV?nKhiêm,thewaterleveloftheRedRiverinHàN?ireached11.1metresat11amonWednesday.Thismarksthehighestfloodlevelin20years,since2004whentheriverroseto11.04metres.ByWednesdayafternoon,thefloodlevelinHàN?iisexpectedtorisefurther,reaching11.3metres,just20cmbelowthethirdwarninglevel.Whilefloodwatersmaybegintorecedetonight,thedecreasewillbeveryslow.Additionally,localriverssuchastheBùi,Tích,andCàL?haveallexceededthethirdwarninglevel,prolongingtheriskofwidespreadfloodinginareasalongtheriversanddikesinHàN?iforatleastthenextthreedays.EvacuationofPhúcXáresidentsOnWednesdaymorning,T?NamChi?n,chairmanoftheBa?ìnhDistrictsPeoplesCommittee,reporteddeepfloodinginsomeareasofTan?pStreet,partofNgh?aD?ngStreet,andPhúcXáStreetinPhúcXáWard.Toreducerisk,thePeoplesCommitteeofPhúcXáWardhasadvisedresidentslivingneartherivertomovetheirbelongingsandprepareforevacuationifemergencyordersareissued.Thewardhasalsorequestedboatsandshipstohelppeoplerelocateandpreventaccidentsandensurethatanynecessaryrescueoperationsarenothindered.Tan?pStreet,PhúcXáWard,Ba?ìnhDistrictissubmerged.ThecommitteehasalsowarnedresidentstostayawayfromriverbanksanddikesalongtheRedRiver,astheareaisdangerouswithstrongfloodcurrents.Itemphasisedthatpeopleshouldnotswimorfishintheriverduringrisingfloodwatersandtourismactivitiesintheseareashavebeentemporarilysuspended.IthasinformedresidentsneedingassistancewithrelocationtocontactthewardsNaturalDisasterPreventionandSearchandRescueCommand.Householdsintheaffectedareasareurgedtocloselymonitorfloodupdates,heedwarningsandfollowlocalgovernmentdirectives.AccordingtotheBa?ìnhDistrictPeoplesCommittee,276householdswith1,059residentslivingintheat-riskareasalongtheRedRiverinPhúcXáWardwereevacuatedtotheVocationalandContinuingEducationCentreat67Phó??cChínhStreetinTrúcB?chWardonTuesdaynight.ThecommitteehasinstructedtheBa?ìnhPowerCompanytocloselymonitorareasneartheriver,implementpowercutplansinfloodedareasandcutelectricitytoaffectedhouseholdsandsubstationstoensuresafety.ResidentsinCh??ngD??ng??RoadinHoànKi?mDistrictareforcedtouseaboattomovethroughthefloodwaters.OnWednesdaymorning,chairmanoftheHoànKi?mDistrictsPeoplesCommitteePh?mTu?nLongannouncedthatthecommitteeinspectedanddirectedrelevantunits,wardsandresidentstofocusallresourcesonfloodpreventioneffortsforthetwowardsofCh??ngD??ngandPhúcTan,wherethewaterleveloftheRedRiverhasrisensignificantly.Thedistricthasorganisednotificationsandencouragedtheevacuationof379householdsacrossthesetwowards.EnsuringsafetyforresidentslivingoutsidetheRedRiverdikeOnWednesdaymorning,Ph?mV?nMinh,chairmanoftheSócS?nDistrictPeoplesCommitteereportedthatthefloodingsituationaffectingresidentsalongthebanksoftheC?uandCàL?riversisquitecomplex.AccordingtopreliminarystatisticsfromthedistrictPeoplesCommittee,approximately3,311householdswith15,673peoplehavebeenaffectedbytheflooding,whichhasalsohitaround167hectaresofrice,cropsandaquaculture.Emergencyresponseeffortsareunderway.ResidentslivingalongtheRedRiverwadethroughfloodwater.Elsewheretherehasbeenabreachanderosionoftheembankmentat??mKhoaiinC?uLaiHamlet,LaiSonVillage,B?cS?nCommune,alongawidthofapproximately5-6metres.WaterfromtheC?uLaistreamoverflowed,floodingaround12hectaresofagriculturalland.ThedistricthasmobilisedtroopsfromRegiment209,Division312toassistresidentsinharvestingcropstominimiselosses.—VNS

InflowwatertoThácBàhydropowerreservoirhasstartedtodecreaseonWednesday.—VNA/VNSPhotoYêNBáI—DeputyPrimeMinisterLêThànhLongonWednesdayconductedaninspectionoftheThácBàHydropowerPlantinnorthernVi?tNam,amidconcernsoveritssafetyofthismajorfacilityinthewakeofhighleveloffloodwaterfollowingTyphoonYagi.ThácBàhydropowerplant,completedin1971,isthefirsthydropowerplantinVi?tNamanditsreservoirisoneofthethreebiggestartificiallakesinVi?tNam,situatedovertwocommunesL?cYênandYênBình,thenorthernmountainousprovinceofYênBái.YênBáiProvincehasrelocated3,186households,comprising11,279people,from24villagesandhamletsinthecommunesofV?nhKiên,YênBình,Hán?à,??iMinh,andThácBàtown(YênBìnhDistrict)toensurethesafetyofresidentsastheThácBàHydropowerPlantdischargesfloodwaters.Atthetimeoftheinspection,theweatherconditionhadeased,andthehydropowerreservoirsoperationsremainedstable,withwaterinflowatover3,100cu.mpersecond.SpeakingwiththeleadershipoftheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MARD)andYênBáiProvince,andtheThácBàHydropowerPlant,DeputyPMLongstressedtheneedtostrictlyfollowthedirectivesofthePrimeMinister,particularlynotingthatinallsituations,thehighestprioritymustalwaysbethehealthandsafetyofthepeople.AgriculturedeputyministerNguy?nHoàngHi?ptoldtheVi?tNamGovernmentPortal(VGP)duringtheinspectionthat,asofnow,theThácBàHydropowerReservoirissecure.However,muchworkremainstobedone,butwiththecurrentinflowandoutflow,wecanconfirmthatThácBàHydropowerPlantissafe,saidHi?p.Headdedthatitwouldtakeaboutoneortwomoredaysforthewaterleveltoreturntothepermittedlevel,andlocalresidentsmustremaininsafesheltersincaseofanyunforeseenevents.DeputyPrimeMinisterLêThànhLongatThácBàHydropowerPlantonWednesdaymorning.—PhotofromVi?tNamGovernmentPortal(VGP)Hi?palsomentionedthatwiththecurrentweatherforecast,thesituationatThácBàHydropowerwillberesolvedsatisfactorily,andthewaterlevelwillfallbelowthepermittedthreshold.Theforecastforrainfallintheareaoverthenext48hoursisapproximately40-50mm,witharound15-20mmexpectedwithinthenext24hours.Currently,theauthoritieshavepreparedvariousresponsemeasuresandarereadytominimisedamage,withtheprotectionofhumanlifebeingthetoppriority.AccordingtothereportfromtheYênBáiProvincialPeoplesCommitteeonthemorningofSeptember11,intheaftermathofYagi,YênBáiProvinceexperiencedlightrainfromtheeveningofSeptember10untilthemorningofSeptember11.Asof6a.m.onSeptember11,thewaterlevelontheThaoRiverinYênBáiwas34.63m(2.63mabovealarmlevel3).OntheNgòiThiaRiver,thewaterlevelat5amonSeptember11was42.01m(2.46mbelowalarmlevel1).OntheCh?yRiveratThácBà,thewaterlevelat5a.m.onSeptember11was28.83m(6.83mabovealarmlevel3).—VNSThácBàHydropowerPlant.—PhotofromtheVi?tNamGovernmentPortal(VGP)Thefirsttwopatientstoreceiveakidneytransplantfromabrain-deaddonoratSaintPaulHospitalweredischargedfromthehospital.—VNSPhotoThanhH?iHàN?I—SaintPaulGeneralHospitalinHàN?ionSeptember10heldafarewellceremonyforthefirsttwopatientswhoreceivedkidneytransplantsfromabrain-deaddonor.ThetwoweredischargedfromthehospitalonWednesday,twoweeksafterreceivingadonatedkidneyfroma32-year-oldyoungmanwhowaskilledinatrafficaccident.Sixpeopleweresaved,includingtwowhoreceivedkidneysatSaintPaulandfourotherpatientswhoreceivedheart,kidneyandcornealtransplantsfromthedonor.ThekidneytransplantsurgerieswereperformedbymedicalstaffatSaintPaulGeneralHospitalwiththesupportoftheVi?t??cHospitalandtheNationalCoordinationCentreforHumanOrganTransplantationonAugust24.Theywerethe54thand55thkidneytransplantoperations,butthefirsttimethehospitalhadperformedtwokidneytransplantsfromabrain-deaddonoratthesametime.DoctorsandnursesspendaminutessilencetohonourandthanktheorgandonoratSaintPaulGeneralHospitalonAugust24.—PhotocourtesyofthehospitalDrHàAnh??c,DirectoroftheMedicalServicesAdministration(MSA),attheMinistryofHealth,praisedthesuccessachievedbythedoctorsatthehospitalandcongratulatedthetwopatients.SaintPaulisthefirsthospitaloftheHàN?isDepartmentofHealth,thefourthhospitalinthecapitalcity,andtheseventhhospitalinthecountrytoperformorgantransplantsfrombrain-deaddonors,saidDr??c.ManyhospitalsinHàN?icurrentlyhavemasteredtransplanttechniques.Thequestionishowtogetmoretransplantsinthefuture.Thisistheresponsibilityofstatemanagementagencies.TheMSAdirectoraddedthattheMinistryofHealthisurgentlycompletingthelegalcorridortofacilitatethetransplantationofhumantissuesandorgans.ThekidneytransplantsmarkedanimportantmilestoneforthedevelopmentofSaintPaulGeneralHospitalaswellasthemedicalsysteminthefieldsofconsultation,diagnosisoforganretrieval,transportationandtransplantationoforgansfrombrain-deaddonors.Accordingtothehospital,thetwopatientswereafemale,N.LP,44,from??ng?aDistrict,HàN?i,whohasrightkidneyfailureandhasbeenundergoingdialysissince2020andamalepatientD.V.T,55,livinginHaiBàTr?ngDistrict,ofHàN?i,whosufferedfromkidneyfailuresince2012.Currently,thehealthofthetwopatientsisprogressingwellwiththekidneysfunctioningnormallyandurineoutputisgood.SaintPaulGeneralHospitaldirectorNguy?n??cLongsaidthespecialceremonywasawaytocongratulatetheorgantransplantrecipientsandexpressgratitudetotheorgandonor.Weperformedakidneytransplanttenyearsagobutstoppedforthreeyearsbecausetherewerenodonorkidneys.Therefore,afterthistransplant,welookforwardtohavingmorepatientsrevivedfromthenoblegestureoforgandonation,saidLong.—VNS

LieutenantColonelNg?Th?AnhMinh,HeadoftheB?cGiangProvincialPoliceWomensCommittee,presentsgiftstohergoddaughterNguy?nTh?ThuyAnonthefirstdayofschool.—PhotoscourtesyofB?cGiangProvinceB?CGIANG—TwoyearssincethebeginningoftheGodmothersandthePoliceOfficersareFosterBrothersprogrammes,fifty-nineorphansanddisadvantagedchildrenhavebeenhelpedbycaringofficialsfromB?cGiangProvincialPolice.Theofficialsintheprovincehavenotonlyprovidedmaterialsupport,eachmotherandbrotherhasbeenattentiveandcaring,regularlyvisitingandencouragingthechildren.Asaresultmanyofthechildrenhavebecomeexcellentstudents,passeduniversityentranceexamsandhavebeensetontheirwaytomaketheirdreamscometrue.TheGodmothersprogrammeiscurrentlysponsoring26childrenwithVN?300,000-500,000(US$12-20)permonthperchild.Ithasalreadyhelpedfourchildrendirectly,includinghelpingtwostudentsheadofftocollegeandtwootherstostudyatuniversity.MajorPh?mTh?Qu?nhNga,ChairwomanoftheL?ngGiangDistrictPoliceWomensUnioncouldnothideherjoytalkingaboutthetwochildrensheadopted,twinsTr?nHàTh??ngandTr?nHuyLong.Theyare18yearsold,studentsoftheL?ngGiangHighSchoolNo2andlivinginKép12Village,H??ngS?nCommune.Thetwinshaveespeciallydifficultcircumstances,theirmotherdiedwhentheywereyoung,theirfatherisoftensickandunabletowork,sotheyhavebecomecarerswhilealsohavingtostudy.LieutenantColonelMinhassiststhebiologicalmotherofhergoddaughterAnwithwalking.Hearingoftheirsituation,thedistrictpoliceWomensUnionwerefullofsympathyandelectedtobecomegodmotherstothetwinsin2021.Eachmonth,thetwochildrenreceiveVN?700,000($28)fromtheunionmemberscontribution.Th??ngandLongpassedtheuniversityentranceexamthisyear.Ngasaid:Thetwochildrenhavetriedtheirbest,thisisaworthyresult.Itisthegreatestrewardforthechildren,fortheirlatemotherandtheWomensUnionofL?ngGiangDistrictPolice.Torealisetheirdreamofgoingtouniversity,sheandhertwoadoptedchildrenoftenconfidedandtalkedaboutwhatcareerstheywouldwanttosuittheirinterestsandcircumstances.Assoonasthetwochildrenreceivedtheadmissionnoticefromuniversities,theWomensUnion,YouthUnionofthedistrictpolicegavethemVN?14million($560)tohelpcoverthetuitionfees.AnothercasethatreceivedhelpfromtheGodmotherprogrammeisNguy?nTh?ThuyAn,an8thgraderattheTh?ngTownJuniorSecondarySchoolinHi?pHoàDistrict.Ansmotherhadanaccidentwhichmeantshehasmajorhealthproblemsandneedslong-termtreatment.Herfatherisaseriouslywoundedveteranandisoftensick.ThedifficultfamilysituationmadeAnconsiderdroppingoutofschooltoworktohelpherparents.Luckily,AnwassponsoredbytheB?cGiangProvincialPoliceWomensCommittee,soshewasabletocontinuestudyingandhasmadethemallproud.Anhasbeenanexcellentstudentformanyyears,winningthirdprizeinhistoryandsecondprizeinliteratureinthedistrict-levelexcellentstudentcompetition.AnsGodmotherislieutenantcolonelNg?Th?AnhMinh,HeadoftheWomensCommittee.ShesaidthatwiththedesiretogiveAnmoremotivationtoexcelinherstudiesandlife,thecommitteepresentedAnwithVN?500,000permonth,givenherschoolsuppliesandbooksandwillsupportheruntilshefinisheshighschool.Talkingaboutherplans,AnsaidthatshewouldcontinuetofocusonherstudiesandwasreviewinghistorytopreparefortheExcellentStudentCompetitioninthe2024-2025schoolyear.InadditiontotheGodmothersprogrammethereisalsothePoliceOfficersareFosterBrothersmodel,againhelpingdisadvantagedstudentsintheprovince.TheB?cGiangProvinceYouthUnionandPolicepresentgiftsfromthePoliceOfficersareFosterBrothersprogramme.AccordingtoheadoftheB?cGiangProvincialPoliceYouthCommittee,Major?oànV?nPh??ng,themodelhashelped33students,ofwhomthreehavegraduatedfromhighschool.Twoofthemareinvocationalcollegesandoneisauniversitystudent.TheprogrammehasanestimatedbudgetofVN?250-300million($10,100-12,100)withsupportlevelsofVN?300,000-500,000permonthperstudent.Everymonth,theunittransfersthesponsorshipfundsforstudentstotheirhomeroomteacherortheYouthUnionSecretaryofthecommunewherethestudentsarestudyingandliving.ThefundcomesfromcontributionsofdifferentorganisationsincludingtheYouthUnion,thepolice,groups,individuals,philanthropistsandcompanies.Inadditiontomonthlyfunding,theprovincialPoliceYouthUnionalsosupportsthechildrenwithstudysuppliesandhelpsthoseinneedwithtransportation,aimingforahigher-levelnumberofsponsorshipsyearbyyear.HeadoftheB?cGiangProvincialPoliceWomensCommittee,LieutenantColonelMinh,saidthatthecommitteewasworkingwithlocalauthoritiestoreviewandmakealistoforphansandpoorchildrenintheareaasabasisforadoption.Theunitisalsoraisingawarenessamongsoldiers,unionmembersandyouthofficialsabouttheprogrammespurposeandmeaning,activelyaskingformoresupport,sothatmoreandmoreorphansandpoorchildrenintheareaarecaredforandprotected.—VNS

Thesceneoftheaccident.—Photonhandan.vn??KL?K—FourpeoplediedafterasleepercoachtravellingontheH?ChíMinhHighwaythrough??kL?kCentralHighlandsprovincehitarainstorm,causingthevehicletolosecontrolandoverturn.Theaccidenthappenedatabout3.37amonWednesdayinVillage9,EaHleoDistrict.DeputyChairmanofthedistrictPeoplesCommitteeLêNg?cHùng,whowaspresentatthescenetodirectthehandlingoftheaccident,saidthatthesleeperbus,withlicenceplate50H-308.53,wasbeingdrivenbyV?ThanhHùng,37,fromQu?ngPhúTownin??kL?kProvince.Itwascarryingabout18-20passengersfromtheprovinceandheadingtoGiaLaiProvince.Thevehiclewastravellingwhenithitarainstormandasitnavigatedaroadcrossingthesurfacewasreportedlytobeslippery,causingthecoachtoflipoverontothesideoftheroad,killingthreepeopleonthespot,whileanotherdiedattheCh?SêDistrictHospitalinGiaLaiProvince.ThevictimsincludedH?Ng?cQu?c,31,fromTh?ngL?iWard,KonTumCity,KonTumProvince,V?nTh?Y?nPh??ng,30,fromIaKh??lCommune,Ch?PahDistrict,GiaLaiProvince,21yearoldLêTh?TrúcLy,21,from??iAnVillage,IaKh??lCommuneandthreeyearoldPhùngNguyênTram,from??iAnVillage.Manyinjuredvictimsremainunderspecialcareatthehospital.Aninvestigationhasbeenopenedintotheaccident.—VNSAclassroominTanHoàSecondarySchoolinTayNinhProvincesTanChauDistrict.–—VNA/VNSPhotoH?ng??tT?YNINH—TayNinhProvincehasincreasedinvestmentineducationandvocationaltraining,improvedtheirquality,strengtheneditslabourforce,andcreatedstablelivelihoodsforworkers.Thesoutheasternprovincehasbeenbuildinginfrastructureforschoolsatalllevelstoimprovetheirquality.Ithas151state-ownedschoolsfrompre-schooltoseniorhighlevelsrecognisedasmeetingnationalstandards,or36percentofallitspublicschools,accordingtoitsDepartmentofEducationandTraining.Inthe2023-24academicyearalone20schoolswererecognisedasmeetingnationalstandards.Duringthisschoolyearschoolsfrompre-schooltoseniorhighschoolhavesuccessfullyimplementedtheirtasksandproactivelydevelopedteachingplanssuitedtotheirlocality,studentsandindividualneeds,thedepartmentreported.Alllocalitieshaveeffectivelyprovidedcompulsoryprimaryeducation,withupto98.8percentofseniorhighschoolstudentsgraduatinglastyear.Itssoleethnicminorityboardingschoolhaseducatedhundredsofstudentsfrom13ethnicgroupssinceopeningin2012.VocationalTrainingTayNinhhadapopulationofnearly1.2million,including680,600peopleofworkingage(15yearsandabove)lastyear.Ofthisnumber,669,765peopleareemployedinvarioussectors.Thenumberofworking-ageindividualswithvocationalqualificationsisexpectedtoriseto210,000in2025from187,534lastyear.Theprovincehas17state-ownedandprivatevocationalinstitutions,includingacollege,intermediateschools,vocationaltrainingandcontinuingeducationcentres,drivingcentres,andacompany.Thestate-ownedTayNinhVocationalCollegeandTayNinhEconomics-TechnologyIntermediateSchooltrainaround1,500studentsannually.Theprovinceisimplementingaprojecttodevelopvocationaltrainingthatwillrunupto2030.TocostmorethanVN?190billion(US$7.7million),itisfundedbypublicandprivatesources.Itaimstotaketherateofworkerswithvocationalskillsto80percentby2030,with35percentholdingcertificates.Italsotargetshavingatleast45percentofsecondaryschoolgraduatespursuebasic-andintermediate-levelvocationaleducationand50percentofseniorhighschoolgraduatesoptingforcollege-levelvocationaleducation.TheprovinceisseekingfundsfromtheGovernmenttoupgradeitsvocationalschoolstomeettheneedsofthejobmarket.ItisalsosolicitingprivateinvestmenttobuildanintermediatevocationalschoolinPh??c??ngIndustrialParkinGòD?uDistrictandavocationalcollegeinD??ngMinhChauDistrict.Priorityisbeinggiventodevelopingvocationsthatsupporttheconstructionofnewruralareasthisyear.Thevocationsincludeagriculture,seafood,forestry,handicrafts,pottery,andtheproductionofwoodenandbambooproducts.Theyalsoinvolveproducingrawmaterialsformanufacturingproducts,textileandgarmentandsaltproduction,breedingornamentalfishandplants,andservices.Theprovincehas400householdsandoneco-operativeengagedintraditionalcraftssuchasmakingleafhats,aluminumandwoodenproducts,incense,bambooitems,andricepaper.Supportpolicieswillbeputinplacetodeveloptraditionalcraftsandpreservetraditionalcraftvillages.Thisyeartheprovinceaimstoprovide1,160ruralworkerswithagriculturalvocationalskillsand1,380otherswithnon-agriculturalskills.Itaimstoincreasetheemploymentrateofskilledworkerstoatleast80percentthisyear.Traditionalcraftshaveenabledmanyruralworkerstoensureasteadylivelihoodandescapepoverty,accordingtolocalauthorities.LêTh?KimThuyshandicraft-makingestablishmentinthebordercommuneofThànhLonginTayNinhProvincesChauThànhDistricthascreatedjobsfornearly100localwomen.—VNA/VNSPhotoGiangPh??ngLêTh?KimThuy,a52-year-oldwomanfromThànhLongCommuneinChauThànhDistrict,startedabusinessthatmakesplasticweavingproducts,providingjobstonearly100localwomenaftercompletingahandicraftscoursein2020.ThecommuneWomensUnionhelpedherenrolinthecourse.Inherarea,itisdifficultforolderpeopletofindsuitablejobstheycoulddointheirsparetime,shesaid.Shehadearlierstruggledtofindworkherself,andsowhenshebeganearningasteadyincomefromherstart-up,shetaughtotherlocalwomenhowtomakeplasticweavingproducts,shesaid.Dependingontheirskills,theecanearnVN?80,000–100,000($3-4)aday.Tr?nhTh?Thoa,chairwomanoftheThànhLongCommuneWomensUnion,saidmostwomenintheareabuyandsellgoodsorworkasdailylabourers,andsolackasteadyincome.Thuysstart-upmodelhashelpedwomenutilisetheirfreetimetoincreasetheirincomes,sheadded.—VNS

Delegatestothecongressinagroupphoto.VNA/VNSPhotoSYDNEYVietnameseStudentsinAustralia(SVAU),aunionofVietnamesestudentsorganisationsthere,aimstobuildaunitedassociationofthestudentsandpromotetheyouthfulspiritofdaringdynamismandcreativity,helditsthirdcongressinSydneyonOctober5.Thecongressdrewin-personandonlineparticipationofmorethanonehundredVietnamesestudentsfromalllocalitiesinAustralia.Inthe2022-2024tenure,theassociationhasshownstrongperformanceinmanyfields,includingorganisingvariousstudentactivitiesandmovements,andgatheringandconnectingVietnamesestudentsandyoungstart-upsacrosstheworld.Besides,itraisedmorethanonehundredmillionVietnamese??ng(overUS$4,000)tosupportvictimsofTyphoonYagiathome,whileconductingmanycharityactivities.Addressingtheeventviateleconferencing,Nguy?nMinhTri?t,SecretaryoftheH?ChíMinhCommunistYouthUnionCentralCommitteeandPresidentoftheVietnameseStudentsAssociationCentralCommitteepraisedtheeffortsbytheSVAUoverthepasttenurewithbreakthroughprogress,revealingitsactiveandpioneeringrole.MinisterCounsellorNghiêmXuanHòafromtheVietnameseEmbassyinAustraliasaidhehopesthattheassociationwillcontinueconnectingVietnamesepeopleinAustralia,helpingmaintaintheVietnameseculturalidentityandpromotingtheimageofVietnamesepeopleinthehostcountry.Atthecongress,delegateselecteda26-memberexecutivecommitteeforthe2024-2026tenure,includingapresidentandfourvicepresidents.Hu?nhT?n??t,whowasre-electedPresidentoftheSVAU,toldtheVietnamNewsAgencythatinthecomingtime,theassociationwillcontinuetoaccompanyandsupportVietnamesestudentsinAustralia,whileorganisingpracticalactivitiestoassisttheminintegratingintothehostcountry.VNA/VNSThàoTh?Mua(firstfromleft),residentinLangQuángCommune,YênS?nDistrictinthenorthernmountainousprovinceofTuyênQuangstandsinfrontofhisnewhouse.Muaisamongbeneficiariesoftheemulationmovementtoremovetemporaryanddilapidatedhousesby2025.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhonSundayissuedanofficialdispatchonacceleratingtheeliminationoftemporaryanddilapidatedhousesacrossthenation.Underthedispatch,thePMacknowledgedenthusiasticresponseofministries,agencies,secretariesoftheprovincialandmunicipalpartycommittees,chairmenofthepeoplescommitteesofprovincesandcentrally-runcities,businessesandindividualstotheemulationmovementonworkingtogethertoremovetemporaryanddilapidatedhousesby2025launchedbythePrimeMinisterinthenorthernmountainousprovinceofHòaBìnhonApril13.Heexpressedhisbeliefthatthemovementwillcontinuecreatingstrongandwidespreadmotivationamongthepublic,helpingrealisethesetgoal.TheGovernmentleaderorderedcitiesandprovincesenhancementoftheirself-relianceaswellasrationalmechanismsenablinglocalitiestoprovidesupportforthosewithdifficultiesineliminatinghousesinpoorconditions,addingitisnecessarytomobiliseministries,agencies,businesses,banks,organisationsandindividualsbothdomesticallyandinternationallytoassistthework.HecalledforconcertedeffortsanddrasticactionsofsectorsandlocalitiestocompletethesetgoalbyDecember31nextyear,withhousingsupportforpeoplewhorenderedservicetothenation,housingassistanceunderthenationaltargetprogrammesandoneundertheremovaloftemporaryanddilapidatedhousesforlocalresidents.TheMinistryofConstructionwasorderedtourgethepeoplescommitteesofprovincesandcentrally-runcitiestostudyanddesignseveralhousingmodelsmeetingtechnicalandqualityrequirementsaswellasensuringtheyaresuitablewithculture,practicesandfeaturesofeachlocalityandregion.TheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairswasaskedtojoinhandswithcompetentministriesandagenciestomakereportsandproposetheestablishmentofacentralsteeringcommitteeonimplementationtheeliminationworktothePrimeMinisterbeforeOctober10,withthePrimeMinisterbeingtheheadofthecommitteeandChairmanoftheVietnamFatherlandFrontCentralCommittee,PermanentDeputyPrimeMinisterandMinisterofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairsdeputyheads.Besides,membersofthecommitteeincludeleadersfromtheministriesofConstruction,Finance,PlanningandInvestment,NationalDefenceandPublicSecurityandStateBankofVi?tNamandGeneralDirectorofVi?tNamTelevision,VoiceofVi?tNamandVietnamNewsAgency.ThecommitteewillberesponsibleforproposingthePrimeMinistersolutionsandspecificwaystoeliminatetemporaryanddilapidatedhousesacrossthenation,assuringtheworksprogress.TheGovernmentsOfficewasorderedtokeepclosetabsontheimplementationoftheofficialdispatchandreporttothePrimeMinisteronanyissuesthatexceeditsauthority.—VNS

AhealthofficialsprayformosquitoestocontroladenguefeverhotspotinHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—ThenumberofdenguefevercasesinHàN?ihasrisensignificantlyinrecentweeks,raisingconcernsamonghealthofficials.AccordingtothecitysCenterforDiseaseControl(CDC),therewere284confirmedcasesreportedbetweenSeptember27andOctober3,fivemorethantheweekbefore.Thediseasehasbeennowreportedin29outof30districtsandtowns.Themosthard-hitsofarwere?anPh??ngwith35cases,followedbyThanhXuanwith30andHà??ngwith25.Thecityalsosawanincreaseinoutbreaksacross13districtsandtowns,particularlyinthehotspotsofCh??ngM?,HoànKi?mandTh?chTh?t,bringingthetotalnumberofoutbreaksto206fortheyear,with39stillactive.Despitetherecentuptickinweeklycases,thisyearscasecounthasdroppedby80percentcomparedtolastyear,indicatingalessseveresituation.Inadditiontodengue,HàN?ialsorecordedasmallnumberofmeaslescases.Healthofficialsurgedparentstoensuretheirchildrenarevaccinatedagainsttheseandotherpreventablediseases.TheHàN?iDepartmentofHealthhasimplementedvariousmeasurestostemthespreadofdengue,includingmonitoring,outbreakinvestigationsandpublichealthcampaigns.—VNSParticipantsattheworkshop.—VNSPhotoT?Nh?HàN?I—Biotechnologyhasrevolutionisedagriculture,drivingkeyinnovationsthathavestrengthenedglobalfoodsecurity,reducedpesticideusageandenhancedbothsoilqualityandenvironmentalsustainabilityoverthepast30years.AssociateProfessorDrNguy?nH?uNinh,DeputyDirectoroftheDepartmentofScience,Technology,andEnvironmentattheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MARD),saidthattheadvantagesofgeneticallymodified(GM)cropsareundeniableandshouldbeembracedswiftlyintodayseraofinternationalintegration.DuringtheworkshoptitledAchievementsandFutureDirectionsinBiotechnologyApplicationforSustainableAgriculturalDevelopmentintheContextofInternationalIntegration,hostedbyMARDinHàN?ionSaturday,DrNinhemphasisedtheimportanceofclosecollaborationbetweenscientists,businesses,andfarmers.Statepoliciesalsoplayacrucialroleinencouragingtheapplicationofbiotechnologyinagricultureandfosteringsustainabledevelopment.Healsostressedtheneedforpoliciesaimedattrainingskilledhumanresourcesinbiotechnologyandfacilitatingtheimplementationofnewresearchprojects.BuildingabrandforVietnameseagriculturalproductsbasedonbiotechnologywouldenhancetheirvalueandcompetitivenessininternationalmarkets.AccordingtoMARD,thereareapproximately200millionhectaresofGMcropsbeingcultivatedglobally,withsoybeansaccountingfornearly80percentofthattotal.Maizealsocoversover25percent.Beyondmaize,biotechnologyhasadvancedtheuseofbiologicalproducts,ensuringbettercropyieldsandincreasingfarmersincomes.Unfortunately,Vi?tNamsadoptionofbiotechnologyhasbeenslow,andthegapbetweenVi?tNamandtherestoftheworldiswidening.WehaveyettomeetthetargetssetbythePartyandtheState,primarilyduetoalackofawareness,saidDrCao??cPhát,formerministerofMARDandchairmanoftheInternationalRiceResearchInstitute.ItisnecessarytoremovebarrierstotheadoptionofGMcropsinVi?tNam.AccordingtotheInternationalServicefortheAcquisitionofAgri-biotechApplications,73countrieshavealreadyembracedGMcrops,recognisingtheirimportanceinboostingfarmersincomes,savingtimeandlabourandreducingpesticideusesignificantly.Duringtheforum,expertshighlightedsignificantachievements,particularlythedevelopmentofnewcropvarietiesusingbiotechnology.Thesevarietiesexhibitgreaterresistancetopestsanddiseases,improvingbothyieldandproductquality.Biotechnologyhasalsobeenappliedinpost-harvestpreservation,reducinglossesandincreasingexportvalue.Furthermore,microbialtechnologieshavebeenwidelyadoptedtoimprovesoilqualityandreducetheuseofchemicalfertilisers,enhancingthesustainabilityoffarmingsystems.Dr??Ti?nPhát,headofthePlantCellTechnologyDepartmentattheBiotechnologyInstitute,saidthatVi?tNamsagriculturalsectormustaccelerateitsadoptionofbiotechnologytomeetthedemandsofinternationalintegration.TechnologiessuchasgeneeditingandprecisionagriculturewillenhanceVi?tNamscompetitivenessinglobalmarketsandhelpthesectoradapttoclimatechange.Biotechnology,hesaid,isnotjustatrendbutthekeytobuildingasustainableandcompetitiveagriculturalindustryinVi?tNam.DirectorofBiotechnologyatCropLifeAsia,SonnyTababa,highlightedtheimportanceofbiotechnologyinaddressingglobalagriculturalchallengeslikeclimatechangeandrisingsealevels.ShepraisedtheVietnamesegovernmentseffortsinpromotingbiotechcropsolutions,particularlythroughscientificresearch,technologytransferpartnerships,andthecontinuousrefinementofregulatoryframeworkstomaximisethebenefitsofthesesolutions.Vi?tNamisoneofthecountrieswiththemostadvancedlegalframeworksforGMcrops.CropLifeiseagertocontinuesupportingpublic-privatepartnershipstointroducethenextgenerationofbiotechcropstoVietnamesefarmers,providingthemwithimprovedfarmingtoolstoachievetheirmissionofensuringfoodsecurityandfosteringsustainableagriculture.YoungscientistNguy?nDuyPh??ngandhisteamhavedevelopedtheTBR225mutantricevariety,whichreducescadmiumcontaminationinhigh-cadmiumareas,protectingpublichealth.Enhancedthroughgene-editing,italsoresistsbacterialleafblight,withstableresistanceprovenacrossthreegenerations,whilemaintainingtraitssimilartotheoriginalvariety.However,DrPh??ngexpressedconcernaboutthelackofclearregulationsforgene-editedcropsinVi?tNam.Henotedthatgene-editedvarietiestakethreetofouryearstodevelopatafractionofthecostofGMcrops.Heurgedthegovernmenttoestablishalegalframeworktosupporttestingandcommercialisation.BySeptember30,MARDhadrecognised31GMmaizevarieties,withsixdeemedbiosafe.Since2015,Vi?tNamhasimportedover13,000tonnesofGMmaizeseeds,covering662,000hectares,withofficialcultivationstartinginMarch2015.—VNS