While Vietnam is hugely successful at international science competitions, experts are concerned the country’s education system might be headed in the wrong direction with its focus on tangible achievements rather than nurturing raw talents to become useful humans. All 38 Vietnamese students who participated in regional and international Olympiads in 2018 were medalists, including 13 gold medals, 14 silver medals and 11 bronze medals, according to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training. Over the past ten years, Vietnam’s performances at such competitions have seen some major improvement, the ministry noted. Between 2009 and 2012, Vietnam only managed to claim around 30 medals each year, with very few gold medals, but since 2013 Vietnam’s yearly medal count at science Olympiads has significantly improved to 35-40 medals, with an average of about ten gold medals each year, according ministry statistics. Most Vietnamese contestants are chosen from … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s obsession with academic medals is spoiling its talents
70th national schools individual chess championships 2018
Foreign workers entitled to compulsory social insurance
Foreign workers entitled to compulsory social insurance (Photo: nld.com.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Social Security has directed its branches in cities and provinces nationwide to collect compulsory social insurance premiums of foreign employees in the country. Under the Government’s Decree No.143/2018/ND-CP, which took effect from December 1, 2018, employees who are foreign citizens working in Vietnam with either a work permit, practice certificate, or practice licence granted by Vietnamese authorities and under unfixed-term labour contracts or contracts with a term of full one year and above will be covered by compulsory social insurance. Similar to Vietnamese employees, the social insurance scheme for foreigners will cover sickness, maternity, occupational diseases and accidents, retirement, and survivor benefits. From January 1, 2022, foreign labourers who are subject to the compulsory insurance scheme must contribute 8 percent of their monthly salary to the … [Read more...] about Foreign workers entitled to compulsory social insurance
Various activities in response to World No Tobacco Day
Speaking at the workshop, Prof. Ngo Quy Chau, Deputy-Director and a doctor of the Hospital, said that smoking is the leading factor causing cardiovascular and cardiac diseases in Vietnam and around the world. Smoking just one cigarette a day increases the risks of heart disease by 50 percent and increases the risk of stroke by 25 percent in comparison with non-smokers. Thus, the benefits of smoking cessation will reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and subsequent deaths by these diseases. Prof. Ngo Quy Chau speaking at the workshop * Responding to the “World No Tobacco Day” and the “National No Tobacco Week,” youths from the Engineer Officers School - Ngo Quyen University held various practical activities, such as strictly abiding by the regulation of "No smoking in the barracks," promoting information dissemination on preventing the toxic effects of tobacco and organizing activities and emulation movements so that each individual can … [Read more...] about Various activities in response to World No Tobacco Day
Tiny Oanh stands tall for Vietnam at SEA Games
Nguyen Thi Oanh crossed the finish line and lay down on the ground, exhausted. Tiny Oanh stands tall for Viet Nam at SEA Games Minutes later, she took the national flag from her coach to celebrate her 3,000m steeplechase victory and burst into tears. Oanh didn't realise she had just become Việt Nam's top track-and-field athlete at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines. Oanh secured a hat-trick of individual titles in the women’s 1,500m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase, with a Games’ record in the last event. “I's so exciting to enjoy the feeling of winning. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing the national flag flying at the victory ceremony,” said Oanh. Việt Nam came to the Games to defend their top position in athletics from the previous tournament two years ago in Malaysia. National champion Oanh, who won golds in the 1,500m and 5,000m in Kuala Lumpur, was the top medal hopes. She was asked to defend her crowns … [Read more...] about Tiny Oanh stands tall for Vietnam at SEA Games
Forum urges leather-footwear sector’s actions to grasp chances
This was the focus of the Supporting Industry Forum 2019, held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 13. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said leather-footwear is one of the key exporting industries of Vietnam. With an annual export growth rate of over 10 percent, the industry earned the country approximated 20 billion USD in 2018 and over 10 billion USD in the first half of 2019. The Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso) forecast this year’s leather-footwear exports at some 21.5 billion USD, up 10 percent from 2018. Vietnamese footwear has been shipped to more than 100 countries, including 50 with imports worth over 1 million USD from Vietnam. The largest markets are the US, the EU, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Vietnam is the world’s second biggest footwear exporter, and this industry is now a great contributor to the national economy, Lefaso said, noting that many companies have expanded production, renovated technology and … [Read more...] about Forum urges leather-footwear sector’s actions to grasp chances