PaneliststalkaboutusingsocialnetworksforhealthcarecommunicationataroundtableheldbytheHCMCityUniversityMedicalCentreonJuly6.—PhotocourtesyofHCMCityUniversityMedicalCentreHCMCITY—Socialnetworksareapowerfultoolforhealthcarefacilitiesandhealthcareprofessionalstodisseminatemedicalknowledge,promoteaccuratemedicalinformationandincreasepublicawarenessofriskfactorsandpathologies,aroundtablehasheard.V?M?nhC??ng,directorofthehealthministrysNationalCentreforHealthEducationandCommunication,toldtheroundtableheldbytheHCMCityUniversityMedicalCentreonSaturdaythatVietnamesespendanaverageoftwohoursand33minutesonsocialnetworkseveryday.Soitmakeseminentsenseforhealthfacilitiestousedigitalchannelstocommunicatewithpatientsandshareknowledgeandinformationonthemandpreventthespreadofmisinformation,hesaid.Tophospitalmanagersandhealthcareprofessionalsneedtoacknowledgetheroleofsocialmediainfluencersinhelpingpromotemedicalinformationandimprovepublichealth,headded.Nguy?nV?nTh?ngLong,alectureratRMITVietnam,saidaround66percentofhealthcarefacilitiesusetraditionalmethodstodisseminateinformationtopatients,withafocusonstatisticsandmedicaljargon.Butonsocialmedia,whichattractslargenumbers,misinformationisrampant,helamented.Healthcarefacilitiesneedtotransformcontentsintoinspiringstoriestoattractthepublicandhelphealthcareprofessionalscommunicateondigitalchannels,headded.—VNS

Anoverviewofthemeeting.—VNA/VNSPhotoTH?ATHIêN-HU?—ThecriminalpolicedepartmentsundertheVietnameseandChineseMinistriesofPublicSecurityorganisedaconferenceinthecentralprovinceofTh?aThiên-Hu?onThursdaytolaunchacampaigntocrackdownonhumantraffickingcrimes.Co-chairingthefunctionweredeputydirectorsofthetwodepartmentsColonelV?V?n??uofVi?tNamandColonelChenShiquofChina.Itwasreportedattheconferencethatrecently,alongtheVi?tNam-Chinaborder,humantraffickingcriminalscommittedtheirillegalactivitiesbyexploitingthetwocountriestraditionalsocio-politico-economicandculturaltiesaswellastheirpoliciespromotingeconomicopennessandinternationalintegration.BetweenDecember2020andearly2024,Vi?tNamdetectedover100casesofhumantraffickingtoChina,whichinvolvedmorethan200suspectsandnearly200victims.Exploitingadvancementsininformationtechnology,traffickersoftenusefakenames,ages,addresses,andphotostobefriendthevictims,promisingthemlucrativeoverseasjobsandwealth,amongothers,tolurethemtogotoChina.Inthefirstsixmonthsalone,theVietnamesecriminalpoliceprosecuted20suspectsinninenewcases.ItisforecastedthathumantraffickingfromVi?tNamtoChinawillremaincomplexandpotentiallyincreaseinthenearfuture.Toeffectivelypreventthiscrime,VietnameseandChinesecriminalpoliceagreedtocontinuetocloselycooperateandtakecoordinatedanddrasticmeasurestocombatthecrimethroughouteachcountrysterritory.—VNSAmeetingtointroducethehealthprotectionproductK1Fucoidan.—VNSPhotoHàN?I—Inordertohelpthecommunitybetterunderstandtheroleofscienceinimprovinghealth,agroupofscientistshasbeentalkingabouthowresearchledthemtodevelopanewwaywhichmayhelpimproveresistancetocancer.TheNationalInstituteforCancerControldevelopedaspecialresearchprojectintothepreparationofthefoodsupplement,Fucolen.Withpositiveresults,supportingthetreatmentofcancerpatients,thatsciencehasbeenturnedintoapracticalapplication,ahealthprotectionproductcalledK1Fucoidan.StatisticsfromtheNationalInstituteforCancerControl,showthatasof2020,thetotalnumberofcancercasesinVi?tNamwas353,826,halfofthemwerenewlydiscoveredin2020andthetotalnumberofdeathsbythatyearwas122,960.AssociateProfessorDr.Tr?nTh?ThanhH??ngoftheNationalInstituteforCancerControlsaidatarecentmeetingonscienceandhealththatthankstotheresearchproject,scientistshaddevelopedastableandsafeformulaintermsofvolumeandingredientsinoneFucoidanhardcapsule.Fucoidancontainsbrownalgaeseaweedwhichhastheabilitytoinhibitthegrowth,proliferation,metastasisofcancercells,eliminateexcesscelltoxinsandeliminateinflammatoryprocesses.LentinaninshiitakemushroomsprovidesBetaGlucan,whichhasaspecialregulatoryeffectontheimmunesystem,helpingtoincreaseandmaintainpeakactivityofTcells,increasingtheactivityofnaturalkillercells.Fucoidansabilitytostrengthentheimmunesystemiseffectivewhencombinedwithshiitakemushrooms,helpingtoproducemorenaturalimmunecells,therebyimprovingtheimmunesystemandsupportingtheprotectionofbenigncells,preventingexternalpathogensfromattackingthebody.Thishashadapositiveimpact,helpingpatientsreducetheriskofcomplicationsofinfectiousdiseasesfromexternalsources.—VNS

DoctorsandnursesattheHàN?iObstetricsGynaecologyHospitaltakingcareofapregnantwoman.VNA/VNSPhotoMinh??cHàN?IVi?tNamisworkinghardtoprovideequalhealthserviceaccessforallpregnantwomentoensurepublichealthandnarrowthesocio-economicgap.ThisinitiativewasdiscussedduringameetingonJuly11inHàN?i,organisedbytheMinistryofHealthandtheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA)tomarkWorldPopulationDay2024.Theeventaimedtoreviewglobalprogressinimplementingcommitmentsrelatedtosexualandreproductivehealthandrightsandtodiscussprioritiesforaddressingoutstandingissuesamidrapidlychangingdemographicsworldwide,includinginVi?tNam.?àoH?ngLan,MinisterofHealthandStandingDeputyHeadoftheNationalCommitteeforPopulationandDevelopment,emphasisedtheimportanceofachievingthegoalsofResolutionNo.21-NQ/TWoftheParty,theVi?tNamPopulationStrategyto2030,aswellastheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsofVi?tNamandtheProgrammeofActionoftheInternationalConferenceonPopulationandDevelopment.TomarkWorldPopulationDay2024,theMinistryofHealthchosethethemeInvestinginPopulationWorkisInvestinginSustainableDevelopment,callingonalllevels,sectors,internationalorganisations,anddevelopmentpartnerstocontinuefocusingonandinvestinginVi?tNamspopulationwork,contributingtothecountrysrapidandsustainabledevelopment.PaulineFatimaTamesis,UNResidentCoordinatorinVi?tNam,stressedtheneedforurgentanddecisiveactiontoensurethatallwomenhaveaccesstoessentialcareservicesduringpregnancyandchildbirth.Investinginreproductiveandsexualhealthisaninvestmentinendingpovertyandinequality,shesaid.IntheAsia-Pacificregion,thematernalmortalityratiohasdecreasedby61percentsince2000,markingthemostsignificantreductioninrecentyears.Morechildrenarebeingbornwiththeassistanceofskilledhealthpersonnel,andthenumberofadolescentsgivingbirthhasnearlyhalvedsince2000.Additionally,32countriesandterritoriesintheregionhaveconductedatleastonesurveyongender-basedviolence.Overthepast30years,Vi?tNamhasmadeeffortstoaddressinequalityandnarrowthesocioeconomicgapbetweenregionsandpopulationgroups.TheHumanDevelopmentIndexhassignificantlyimproved,reachinganaveragelevelcomparedtoothercountriesworldwide.Notableimprovementsincludethereductioninmalnutritionandmaternalandchildmortalityrates.Thematernalmortalityratehasdecreasedsixfoldoverthepast30years,from233per100,000livebirthsin1990toapproximately40per100,000livebirthsinrecentyears.Since1993,theinfantmortalityratehasdroppedfrom43.3to12.1per1,000livebirthsin2020.Lifeexpectancyhasincreasedrapidly,from65.5yearsin1993to74.5yearsin2023,exceedingthatofmanycountrieswithsimilaraverageincomelevels.VNSTheThanhHàAgriculturalProductionandServicesCooperativeinNinhS?CommuneinTh??ngTínDistrictgrowsmicrogreensandorganicvegetablesPhotocourtesyofHàN?isQuality,ProcessingandMarketDevelopmentSub-department.HàN?I—HàN?ihasmadesignificanteffortstoacceleratedigitaltransformationinagriculture,aimingtoenhancemanagementefficiencyandsupportproducersandbusinessesinunderstandingmarketdemandanddiversifyingproductconsumptionchannels.DigitaltransformationnotonlyhelpsHàN?isfarmersreduceproductioncostsandeliminateintermediariesbutalsograduallyshiftsagriculturefromtraditionalmethodstoamoderncommodityagriculturesystem.Accordingtoagriculturalsectordata,HàN?ihasdeveloped285high-techagriculturalproductionmodelsanddigitaltransformationprojects.High-techagriculturalproductsanddigitaltransformationcurrentlyaccountforabout40percentofHàN?istotalagriculturalproductionvalue.Thehigh-techanddigitaltransformationmodelshaveyieldedeconomicbenefits,especiallyindistrictssuchasMêLinh,GiaLam,Th??ngTín,??ngAnh,ThanhOaiand?anPh??ng.AsoneoftheunitsproducingvegetablesaccordingtoVietGAPstandards,theThanhHàAgriculturalProductionandServicesCooperativeinNinhS?CommuneinTh??ngTínDistrict,hasfocusedonapplying4.0technologytopromoteagriculturalproducts.BùiTh?ThanhHà,directoroftheThanhHàAgriculturalProductionandServicesCooperative,statedthatthecooperativehasanareaofapproximately10,000squaremetresforgrowingmicrogreensandsafevegetables.Allproductsareproducedaccordingtoorganicstandards,fromseedselectionandsubstratesanitation,throughtotheirrigationsystemandvegetablecare.Tofacilitateproductpromotionandtraceability,HàsaidthatthecooperativehasappliedinformationtechnologytoregisterQRcodesintegratedwithproducttraceabilityinformationsuchasproductionprocesses,harvestingandpackaging.ConsumerscansimplyscantheQRcodeontheproductwithasmartphonetoaccesscomprehensiveproductorigininformation.HoàngV?nThám,ChairmanandDirectoroftheChúcS?nCleanVegetablesandFruitsCooperativeinChúcS?nTown,Ch??ngM?District,statedthatthecooperativehasimplementeddigitaltransformationintwoareas:theapplicationoftheiMetosweatherwarningstationandtheeGapdigitaltechnologyclusteron17.8hectaresofvegetableandfruitcultivation.TheiMetosweatherwarningstationhelpsmanageandmonitorproduction,adjustplantingschedulesandpromptlymodifyvegetablecareprocessesinresponsetoweatherchanges.TheeGapdigitaltechnologyclusterallowsthecooperativetoelectronicallytracetheoriginofeachvegetableplotandeachfarmersproduce.Buildingonthissuccess,thecooperativecontinuestoinvestinperfectingacomprehensivedigitaltransformationprocessinproductionandsupplychaindevelopment.Italsoaimstoconnectwithe-commerceplatformsthatconfirmeGapqualityonproductlabels,therebygainingconsumertrust.Nguy?nTh?ThuH?ng,DirectoroftheHàN?iSub-departmentofQuality,ProcessingandMarketDevelopmentsaid:HàN?isagriculturalsectorisactivelysupportingcooperativesandbusinessesindevelopingthecitysAgricultural,Forestry,andFisheryFoodTraceabilitySystemonthewebsitecheck.hanoi.gov.vn.Currently,thesystemhasgrantedmanagementaccountsto3,430entities,includingcooperatives,production,processing,preliminaryprocessingandpackagingfacilities,with13,353setsofproducttraceabilitycodesmeetingfoodsafetycriteria.HàN?iisstrivingtoacceleratedigitaltransformationinagriculturalproductionwiththegoalofmodernisingandenhancingtheproductivityandqualityofitsproducts.FoodproductionandprocessingfacilitiesinHàN?ihavealreadyincorporatedinformationtechnologyintomanagementprocesses,logistics,storageandsupplychainpromotion.Thisallowsthemtocontrolthequalityandoriginofagriculturalproductsfromrawmaterialstomarket-readyitems,shesaid.Additionally,producersareusinge-commerceonsocialmediaplatformssuchasFacebook,ZaloandTikToktoconnectdirectlywithconsumers,sheadded.Nguy?nM?nhQuy?n,ViceChairmanoftheHàN?iPeoplesCommittee,announcedthatHàN?ihasapprovedabudgetofoverVN?10billiontosupportlocalitiesinacquiringmachineryandequipmentfordigitaltransformationinagriculture.Specifically,in2024,thisprogrammewillbeimplementedinS?nTayTownandsixdistrictsofThanhOai,BaVì,MêLinh,SócS?n,GiaLamandQu?cOai,withanestimatedsupportfundofVN?3.65trillionfor28facilities.In2025,theprogrammewillexpandtoS?nTayTownandthedistrictsofTh?chTh?t,ThanhOai,BaVì,MêLinh,SócS?n,andQu?cOai,supporting49facilitieswithatotalbudgetofVN?6.55trillion.—VNSKidsparticipatinginanoutdooractivityattheHCMCityPreschoolinHCMCitysDistrict3.—VNSPhotoNguy?nDi?pHCMCITY—LocalofficialshaveproposedthattuitionfeesbereducedforalllevelsofeducationinHCMCityforthenewschoolyear.ThemunicipalPeoplesCommitteehassubmittedaproposaltothePeoplesCounciltoissuearesolutionregulatingtuitionfeesforpublicpre-schoolandgeneraleducationfromtheupcoming2024-25schoolyearonwards.Accordingly,theproposedtuitionfeesaredividedintotwogroups.Group1includesTh???cCityanddistrictsof1,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,BìnhTh?nh,PhúNhu?n,GòV?p,TanBình,TanPhúandBìnhTan.Group2comprisesBìnhChánh,HócM?n,C?Chi,NhàBèandC?nGi?districts.Parentsofchildrenagedfromthreeto36monthsinGroup1willpayVN?200,000(US$7.9)permonthperchild,whiletheirpeersinGroup2willpayVN?120,000($4.7).ParentsofchildrenagedthreetosixyearsinGroup1willpayVN?160,000($6.3)permonthperchild,andtheirpeersinGroup2willpayVN?100,000($3.9).ParentsofmiddleschoolstudentsinGroup1willpayVN?60,000($2.4)permonthperchild,andtheirpeersinGroup2willpayVN?30,000($1.2).ParentsofhighschoolstudentsinGroup1willpayVN?120,000permonthperchild,andtheirpeersinGroup2willpayVN?100,000.Theproposedtuitionfeesforthe2024-25schoolyearareequivalenttothefeeschargedinthe2021-22schoolyearandrepresentareductioncomparedtothe2023-24schoolyear.Thetuitionfeesforonlinelearningaresetat50percentofthefeeschargedbypubliceducationalinstitutionsforin-personlearning.Inaddition,themunicipalPeoplesCommitteehasalsoproposedaresolutiontothePeoplesCouncilthatwouldregulatetherates,collection,andallocationofresourcesforservicesthatsupporteducationalactivities,replacingResolution04applicabletothe2023-24schoolyear,whichhasexpired.Specifically,itproposestoadjustanumberofeducationalservicefees.Followingthecommitteesadjustment,themaximumfeesforairconditioningserviceswouldincreasefromVN?50,000-110,000($2-4.3)perstudentpermonthforclassroomsthatarenotequippedwithairconditioningandmustberented.Thefeefororganisingthecareandeducationofpre-schoolchildreninthesummertobecomeanafter-hourschildcareandeducationservice,whichincludestheserviceofbabysittingondaysoff(notincludingholidays,T?tandmeals),willsurge.Theregulationoffeesandtheproposedratesforafter-hourscareservicesinpre-schoolsaimtocreatefavourableconditionsforparentstoworkwithpeaceofmind.Fornon-publicpre-schools,thisregulationensuresthattheyhavesufficientlegalgroundstoprovideservicesthatmeetsocialneedsinaccordancewithsetstandards.Itservesasabasisforrelevantauthoritiestomonitor,manage,andsuperviseactivitiesofpre-schooleducationalinstitutions,ensuringqualitycareandsafetyforchildren.—VNS

HCMCITY—TheHCMCityUniversityofMedicineandPharmacyHospitalannouncedonJuly10thatithassuccessfullyperformedsurgeryandtreatmentforaforeignsurgeonwithrectalcancer.ThisunderscoresthecredibilityandexpertiseofVietnamesedoctors,whichareincreasinglyrecognised,andcreatestrustamonginternationalpatients.The64-year-oldIndonesiandoctorwasdiagnosedwithrectalcancerinearly2024.Asasurgeon,helearnedaboutplacesthatcouldtreathisdisease.ReceivingadvicefromIndonesiancolleagueswhohadpreviouslyparticipatedintrainingcoursesattheHCMCityhospital,hedecidedtogotoVi?tNaminFebruary.DoctorNguy?nH?uTh?nhfromthehospitalsDepartmentofGastroenterologysaidthatthepatientsdiseasehasdevelopedtoStage3withalargetumorandmanymetastaticlymphnodesinthemesorectum.Afterthesurgery,thepatientresumednormalactivitiesandwasdischargedfivedayslater.HesharedthatafterexperiencingthetreatmentprocessforoverfourmonthsinVi?tNam,hefeelshappywithhisdecision.Th?nhsaidthatrectalcancer,notuncommoninVi?tNam,canbetreatedsuccessfullyifdetectedearly.Athishospital,eachyearmorethan800casesofrectalcancerarediagnosedandtreatedwitha5-yearsurvivalrateofupto70percentforStage3cancer.Besidestreatment,thehospitaliscurrentlyatrainingcentreforrectallaparoscopicsurgeryfordomesticandforeigndoctors.Overthepast15years,763doctorsfromcountriessuchasIndonesia,Malaysia,Myanmar,Pakistan,thePhilippines,Singapore,andThailandhaveattendedlaparoscopicsurgerytrainingcourseshere.—VNSAfireata2,000sq.mfactoryinBìnhD??ngProvincelastweek.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Fireskilled57peopleandinjured45othersinthefirstsixmonthsofthisyear,accordingtothePoliceDepartmentofFirePrevention,FightingandRescue.Thecountryreport2,222firesduringthisperiodwiththepropertylossesincurringtoVN?127.9billion.Thedepartmentalsoreported125forestfiresinthefirsthalfwith529hadestroyed.Comparedtothesameperiodin2023,thenumberoffiresanddeathsbothincreasedwhilethepropertylossesdeclined.Mostofthefires(1,343)werereportedinurbanareas,accountinggot60.4percent.Residentialareafireswerethemostcommontypewith823incidents.Otherblazeswerereportedatbusinessandproductionfacilitiesandwarehouses.Ofthe2,222fires,upto1,299wereinvestigatedwiththemaincausesidentifiedaselectricfailuresandcarelessuseofheatsources.Accordingtothepolice,mostofthefireswerereportedatindustrialparks,households,housescombinedwithproductionandbusinessandestablishmentswithcrowdedpeople(miniapartments,boardinghouses).Anumberoffirescausedserioushumandamage.Leadersoflocalauthoritieshavenottakenfullresponsibilityforfirepreventionandcontrolwork.Atsomeplaces,localauthoritieshaveloosenedmanagement,leadingtoviolations.Therearemanyconstructionsbuiltwithoutpermissionordonotmeetfiresafetyrequirements.Manyconstructionshavechangedthehousingpurposesfromresidencetobusinessorcombinedbothpurposeswithoutcomplyingwithregulationsonfiresafetyandprevention,saidthepolice.Manyprojectsaretoooldandcannotberenovatedorrepaired.Othershavebeenarrangedtoberelocated,butpeoplehavenotcomplied.Inthesecondhalfoftheyear,thepolicewillstepupinvestigationandstiffenpunishmentsonestablishmentswhofailtofollowfiresafetyregulations.Thepoliceplantoapplytwomodelsoffiresafetytaskforceandfirefightingatpubliclocationstopromotefirepreventionandcontrolworkinthecommunity.—VNS

Thesceneoftheaccident,involvingthreevehicles,includingaminibus,ontheHàN?i–H?iPhòngExpressway,resultinginthedeathsoftwodriversandinjuriesto14othersonThursdaymorning.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?ID??NG—Aserioustrafficaccidentoccurredinvolvingthreevehicles,includingaminibus,ontheHàN?i–H?iPhòngExpressway,resultedinthedeathsoftwodriversandinjuriesto14othersonThursdaymorning.Amongtheinjuredisonedriverincriticalcondition,whohasbeenrushedtohospital,whiletheremaininginjuredaremainlypassengersaboardtheminibus.Initialreportsindicatethatthemulti-vehiclecollisionoccurredat9amonThursdayontheexpressway,runningthroughGiaL?cDistrict,inthenorthernprovinceofH?iD??ng.Thedistrictspolicesaidthatithaddispatchedofficerstothesiteoftheincident,coordinatingwiththetrafficdepartmentundertheMinistryofPublicSecurityandtheExpresswayManagementBoardtomanagethetraffic,conductrescueoperationsandinvestigatethecauseofthefatalcrash.ThesceneoftheaccidentontheHàN?i–H?iPhòngExpressway,killstwodriversandinjuriesto14othersonThursdaymorning.—VNA/VNSPhotoPreliminaryinvestigationrevealedthattheaccidentwascausedwhenawhitepickuptruckandaminibuscollidedlightly,abruptlystoppinginthemiddleoftheexpresswayshighest-speedlaneheadingfromHàN?iCitytoH?iPhòngCity.Theabrupthaltcausedthedriveroftheseven-seatervehiclefollowingbehind,todirectlyrear-endthestationaryvehicleinfront.Theseven-seatersustainedfrontaldamage,deployingairbagsandcomingtorestsidewaysacrossthetwoexpresswaylanes.Theinvestigativeauthoritiesarecontinuingtoexaminethescenetoestablishtheexactcauseoftheaccident.—VNS

UncleT?(left)carrieswoodfromhisboattotheriverbanktobuildhousesforthepoor.—Photonld.com.vnC?NTH?—Fortwodecades,Tr??ngV?nKi?mandhisteamhavebuiltnearly600housesforthepooracrossthesouthwesternprovincesofVi?tNam.InTanL?cWard,Th?tN?tDistrict,C?nTh?City,heisaffectionatelyknownasUncleT?,atestamenttohisfar-reachingimpact.At72,UncleT?remainsrobustandhealthy,thankstothephysicaldemandsofhishouse-buildingwork.Hewasonceafarmerbutmovedbytheplightofimpoverishedfamilies,heunexpectedlybecameabuilder.UncleT?recallsaneveningin2003whenhewascaughtinaheavyrainwhilefetchingherbalmedicine.Hesawanelderlywomanchoppingdownatreeandaskedherwhy.Sheexplainedthatherhousehadcollapsedandsheneededwoodtorebuildit.Seeingherstruggle,heinquiredaboutherchildren,whoshesaidonlydrankalcoholanddidnothelpher.Deeplymoved,UncleT?usedhissavingstobuildanewhousefortheelderlywoman.Thisactofkindnessmarkedthestartofhislifelongmissiontoprovidefreehousingforthepoor.Hischildrensfinancialsupport-VN?100million(US$3,934)annually-alongwiththeincomefromlandrentalsandoccasionalbankloans,fundshisefforts.IboughtalargeboatfornearlyVN?100millionandasmalleroneforVN?70milliontotransportwoodthroughouttheMekongDeltatobuildhouses,saidKi?m.Initiallyself-taught,UncleT?learnedbuildingtechniquesfromhisfriend,LêV?nM??i.Withinthreeyears,hebecameskilledenoughtoleadtheconstruction,significantlycuttingcosts.HisworksoonattractedlocalvolunteersinTanL?c,forminga20-memberteamdedicatedtothischaritablecause.Todate,theyhavebuilt582housesforimpoverishedfamilies,orphansandtheelderly,eachcostingaroundVN?30million(US$1,180).TheireffortsearnedthemtheNationalVolunteerAwardin2020.Despitecriticismforhiswastefulgenerosity,UncleT?remainedsteadfast.Hebelieveseveryonedeservesasafehome,especiallyduringharshweather.Wheneverhehearsofafamilyinneed,heandhisteaminvestigateandoffertohelp.Theirprocessisefficient.Prefabricatedframesaretransportedbyboatandassembledon-sitewithinaday.Toaddapersonaltouch,UncleT?oftenbuildsfurnitureforthenewhomeowners,makingtheirhousestrulyfeellikehomes.TeammemberNguy?nV?nBéT?,despitelosingtwofingersinanaccident,findsjoyinthiswork.Iworkwithoutpay,purelyfrommyconscience,hesaid.Hu?nhV?nS?n,anothervolunteer,sharedsimilarsentiments,recallingemotionalmomentswithgratefulfamilies.UncleT?simpactextendsbeyondC?nTh?,reachingprovinceslikeAnGiang,KiênGiangandCàMau.FamilieslikeH?Th?LanhandNguy?nV?nThànhexpresstheirdeepestgratitudefortheirnewhomes,highlightingthespiritofcommunityUncleT?fosters.IheardaboutUncleT?scharityhouse-buildingandreachedouttohim.saidThành.HisteambuiltthishouseformeandIamincrediblygratefultothem.UncleT?evengoesbeyondhouse-building,oncedelivering50kgofricetoabedriddencouple,exemplifyinghisdedicationtohelpingothers.Nowolder,UncleT?focusesonmanagingandmentoringhisteam,ensuringhismissioncontinues.Withenoughwoodfor300morehouses,hehopestokeepbuildingandtrustshisteamtocarryonhislegacy.Ivehadtwosurgeries,butdoinggooddeedsismybestmedicine.Itswhatkeepsmegoing,hesaid.UncleT?sstoryisapowerfulreminderoftheprofoundimpactoneindividualscompassioncanhaveoncountlesslives.Hislegacyisoneofkindness,communityandunwaveringdedicationtohelpingthoseinneed.—VNSVietnamesenursesworkinginJapan.—Photovietnamplus.vnHàN?I—TheprospectsofworkingabroadarebroadeningwithanumberofEasternEuropeannationsexpressinginterestinhiringVietnamesestaff.Ph?mVi?tH??ng,DeputyDirectoroftheOverseasLabourManagementDepartmentattheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs,saidthatalongsideestablishedmarketslikeJapan,Taiwan(China)andSouthKorea,thereisgrowingdemandforVietnameselabourinnewmarketssuchasRomania,Hungary,Poland,SlovakiaandSerbia.Vietnameseworkersarecurrentlyemployedabroadindiversesectorssuchasmechanicalengineering,textiles,footwear,electronicsassembly,construction,agriculture,fisheries,elderlycare,healthcareandhouseholdassistance.Theyenjoyfavourableworkingandlivingconditions,includingwelfarebenefits.IncomelevelsfortheseworkersarerelativelystableandrangefromUS$1,200to$1,600permonthinmarketslikeJapanandSouthKorea,$800to$1,200permonthinTaiwan(China)andEuropeancountries,$700to$1,000permonthforskilledworkersand$500to$600permonthforunskilledworkersintheMiddleEastandAfrica.H??ngnotedthatJapanhasconsistentlybeenthetopdestinationforVietnameseworkersinrecentyearsacrossmultiplesectors.InJune2024,Vi?tNamandJapansignedanagreementtoincreasethenumberoftechnicalinterntrainees,withplansfor40traineesthisyearand500overthenextfiveyears.Thisagreementalsobroadensrecruitmentcategoriesandconditions,particularlyaimingtoboostemploymentinlargehospitals.VietnameseworkersinJapantypicallycompriseupto50percentofthetotalannualoverseasworkforce.By2023,Vi?tNamhadsurpassedChinatobecomeJapanslargestgroupofforeignworkers,numberingover518,360individuals-asignificant63.6percentincreaseoverfiveyears.InSouthKorea,thisyearsEmploymentPermitSystem(EPS)hasseenasurgeinVietnameseapplicants,hittingarecordofnearly45,000,threetimestheintakequotaandthehighestinits20-yearhistory.TheKoreanlanguageproficiencytestwasheldinfourprovincesandcitiesofHàN?i,ThanhHóa(chǎn),?àN?ngandHCMCityfromMarchtoJune2024.Currently,over600,000Vietnameseworkersareemployedin50countriesandterritories,contributingaround$4billionannually.H??ngsaidthattheDepartmentofOverseasLabourManagementplanstoexplorenewmarketsandexpandintoEuropeinthenearfutureduetofavourableworkingconditionsandincomeopportunities.SeveralcountriesinthisregioncurrentlyhaveademandforVietnameseworkers,particularlyinagriculture.AccordingtoareportfromtheOverseasLabourManagementDepartment,inthefirstsixmonthsof2024,atotalof78,640Vietnameseworkerswereemployedabroad,reaching62.91percentoftheyearstarget.Japanledthewaybyaccepting40,596Vietnameseworkers,followedbyTaiwan(China)with27,837workers,SouthKoreawith5,582,Chinawith1,080andvariousothermarkets.InJune2024alone,morethan12,780Vietnameseworkerswereemployedabroad.—VNS

AwhoopingcoughpatientisunderspecialcareattheHu?GeneralHospital.—PhotocourtesyofthehospitalTH?ATHIêN-HU?—Whoopingcoughhasre-emergedinthecentralprovinceofTh?aThiên-Hu?aftermorethantenyears,withfivesuspectedcases,ofwhichtwoalreadytestedpositiveforthevirus,theprovincialhealthdepartmentannouncedonTuesday.AllfivecasesareundersupervisionattheHu?GeneralHospital.TwopatientswhoweretestedpositiveforthediseasearefromHu?CityandH??ngTh?yTown.Theyarechildrenunderthreemonthsold,whoeitherhavenotbeenvaccinatedorhavejustbeenvaccinatedandhavenotyetgotimmunity.Leadersofthelocalhealthdepartmentsaidthatafterrecordingsuspectedcases,thehealthsectorcoordinatedwithaffectedlocalitiestoorganiseinvestigations,taketestsamplesandsendthemtotheNhaTrangPasteurInstituteforconfirmatorytesting.Thedepartmenthassteppedupcommunicationmessagingtoraisepeoplesawarenessaboutthedisease.Thehealthsectoriscontinuingtosupervisetopromptlydetectcasesinthecommunity,aswellasinmedicalfacilitiestocontrolandpreventoutbreaks.Theprovincialhealthsectorstrengthenstheworkofadmitting,treatingandresuscitatingpatients,movingthemtoupper-levelwhenrequiredandpreventingcross-infectioninmedicalfacilities.Itmaintainsvaccinationrates,reviewingcasesthathavenotbeenvaccinatedornottotherightlevel,organisingtopupvaccinationsaccordingtotheMinistryofHealthsinstructions.Thehealthdepartmentsaidthatwhoopingcoughwasanacuterespiratoryinfectioncausedbypertussisbacteria.Thediseaseoftenoccursinchildrenunderfiveyearsold,issevereandcaneasilyleadtodeath,causingcomplicationsofbronchitisandpneumonia,especiallyinthosewhohavenotbeenfullyvaccinated.Ittransmitsthroughtherespiratorytractbydirectcontactwiththepatientsnasopharyngealsecretionswhencoughingorsneezing.Theinfectionrateishighinpeoplelivinginthesameclosedspace,suchashouseholdsandschools.StatisticsoftheDepartmentofPreventiveMedicineshowedthatinthefirstfivemonthsthisyear,thecountryrecorded127casesofwhoopingcough,7.9timesgreaterthanthesameperiodlastyear.ThemainreasonistheinterruptioninvaccinessupplyundertheExpandedImmunisationProgramme,whichhasaffectedthenationwidecoveragerate.—VNSHCMCity-C?n??oexpressboat.—VNA/VNSPhotoTi?nL?cHCMCITY—TheHCMCity-C?n??oexpressboatservicewillbetemporarilysuspendedfromJuly29duetoinefficientoperation,justovertwomonthssincelaunch.Theservicewaslaunchedinmid-May,2024,connectingthesouthernmetropoliswithConDaoislandoffBàR?a-V?ngTàuProvince.However,severalfactorshavehinderedpassengersfromchoosingtheservicesuchasthelongdistance,over20km,betweenthecityscentreandtheSàiGòn-Hi?pPh??cportintheoutlyingdistrictofNhàBè,wheretheboatdeparts;passengershavingtopayfeestoentertheport;andweatherconditions,amongothers,thecompanysaid.TheoperatorofferedafreeshuttlebusservicefromtheSeptember23ParkinHCMCitysDistrict1totheportforpassengersbookinginadvance.However,someproblemsoccurredanditdecidedtosuspendtheservicefromearlyJunebutlaterresumedtheoperation.Thehigh-speedboat,namedTh?ngLong,seats1,017passengers.TicketpricesrangedbetweenVN?615,000-1.1million(US$26-43)pertrip.Therewerethreetripsdepartingeachportweekly.TheboatdepartedfromSàiGòn-Hi?pPh??cPortforC?n??oat7:00am,andfromB?n??mWharfofC?n??oforHCMCityat1:00pm.—VNS

AwomanistestedfordiphtheriainNgh?AnProvince.—Photobaonghean.vnHàN?I—OnediphtheriadeathhasbeenrecordedinthecentralNgh?AnProvincepromptingfastactionsfromhealthauthoritiestoavoidanymorefatalitiesandtocontainanypossibleoutbreak.Thepatientwasan18-year-oldstudentinK?S?nDistrict,whodiedonJuly5.Atotalof119peoplewhohavecomeintocontactwithherhavebeenidentified.Amongthem,twohaveleftNgh?AnforworkinthenorthernB?cGiangProvince,oneotherhastestedpositivefordiphtheria.B?cGiangsCentreforDiseaseControl(CDC)anditsHi?pHòaDistrictHealthCentreidentified15otherpeoplewhohavebeenincontactwiththepositivecasefortesting.EightofthemhavetestednegativeforthevirusasofTuesdaymorning.Diphtheriaistransmittedthroughtherespiratorytract.SpeakingtoS?ckh?e??is?ng(HealthLife)newspaper,DrNguy?nV?nTh??ng,deputydirectorofNgh?AnDepartmentofHealthsaidthatuponreceivingthenewsfromNgh?AnFriendshipGeneralHospitalofapossiblediphtheriainfection,thedepartmentorderedimmediatesamplecollectionfortestingattheNationalInstituteofHygieneandEpidemiology.TheprovincialCDCwasalsoorderedtosendarapidresponseteamtoK?S?nDistricttoassistindiseaseinspectionandcontrolandidentifypeoplewhocameintoclosecontactwiththepatient.Th??ngsaid:Ngh?Anhealthsectorisworkingwithauthoritiesofotherlocalitiesinvolvedinthiscasetotakediseasepreventionandcontrolmeasures,monitoringthesituationandtakingsamples.Thosewhohavecomeintocontactwiththepositivecaseorshowedsymptomssuchassorethroat,coughorfeveraregivenprophylacticantibioticsandguidelinesforat-hometreatment.Announcementsarealsobeingbroadcastonthepublicspeakersystemtoboostpeoplesawarenessofdiphtheria.Wealsoprovidediphtheriavaccinesforthosewhoareeligiblebuthavenotreceivedtheirdoses.OnMonday,Ngh?Anhealthdepartmentalsoissuedanurgentdocumenttoincreasemonitoringforearlydetectionofdiphtheriacases,alongsideguidelinesforpromptisolationofinfectionsforeffectiveresponseandpreventionofwidespreadoutbreaks.Communicationatthegrassrootslevelalsoincreasesforproactiveactionsamonglocalpeople.Familiesarealsoencouragedtobringtheirchildrentohealthcentresfortimelyandcompletevaccination.Hygienepracticesarealsobeingpromotedinschool.ThosewhoarenotincludedintheExpandedProgrammeonImmunisationarerecommendedtogettheirvaccinefordiphtheriaaton-demandvaccinationpoints.Thegoalisthatallchildren,includingthosewhoarenotpermanentresidents,arefullyvaccinated.Thevaccinationrateshouldbeover95percentinallwards,communesandtowns,especiallyinremoteareaswherehealthcareaccessisstilllimited.Localauthoritiesmustensureproperhospitalisation,emergencycareandtreatmentforpotentialorpositivecasesofdiphtheriatopreventcross-infectioninmedicalfacilitiesandminimisethechancesoffatality.Medicalsuppliesandmedicineshavebeenreadiedincaseofanypossibleoutbreaks.Inadditiontodisinfectionanddistancingmeasuresinareaswhereinfectionshavebeendetected,authoritiesalsoadvocatepractisinghygieneandprovideinformationonthediseaseinmultiplelanguages,includingthoseofethnicminorities.Ngh?Anschallengeinpreventingdiphtheriaisthatmostofitspopulationislocatedinremoteareasandhaslimitedknowledgeofthedisease.Ngh?AnhealthdepartmentsdeputydirectorTh??ngrecommendedthatthosewhocomeintocontactwithapositivecaseorexperiencesymptomssuchassorethroat,cough,shortnessofbreathorfevermustimmediatelygotothelocalhealthstationforexaminationandtreatment,ratherthanself-medicatingathome.—VNSColonelNguy?nTu?nH?ng,DeputyDirectoroftheDepartmentofInvestigativeSecurity,MinistryofPublicSecurity,answersquestionsfromthepress..—PhotocourtesyofMinistryofPublicSecurityHàN?I—TheInvestigationSecurityAgencyundertheMinistryofPublicSecuritysaidonMondaythatithaslaunchedaninvestigationintothecaseofbiddingregulationviolations,andgivingandtakingbribesatC?ngMinhCompanyLimitedandinsomeprovincesandcentrally-runcities,whichcausedseriousconsequences.AccordingtotheinvestigationthatbeganonMay8,around50firmsunderthewingoftheC?ngMinhCompanywonover600treegrowingtenderpackagesasthecompanycolludedwithinvestorstoengageinthedevelopmentofthepackages.Theinvestigationisunderwaytoclarifytheresponsibilitiesofrelatedindividualsandorganisations,andidentifythedamagecausedbytheviolations.TheagencyaskedindividualsandorganisationstoprovidedocumentsandreportviolationslinkedtotheC?ngMinhCompanytoreceiveleniency.RegardingthePhúcS?nGroupcase,theagencysaid23defendantshavebeenprosecutedwhileoverVN?300billion(US$11.8millionUSD),$2million,500taelsofgold(ataelequals37.5gramsor1.2ounces),andover1,000landcertificatesofthoseinvolvedinthecorruptioncasehavebeenseizedsofar.Moredocumentsandevidencearebeingcollectedfortheexpansionoftheinvestigation,andrecoveryofthelostandmisappropriatedproperties.Theinvestigationagencyisprobingintoviolationsofregulationsonaccountingandbidding,givingandtakingbribes,andabusinginfluenceonpersonsholdingpositionsandpowertoseekillegalprofitsatthegroup.—VNS