Social news

Green trees neglected in Ho Chi Minh CityWhile some of the city’s trees have become common dumping grounds for local garbage, others are suffocating from cement poured over their roots.According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, trees along D2 Street in Binh Thanh District have had their roots buried under a layer of cement, making it difficult for the plants to be taken care of or watered.“They are still growing just fine. I protect these trees from being chopped down,” a resident explained.Several trees on the promenades of Hoa Hao Streets in District 11 have also been subjected to such neglectful treatment.“The concrete surrounding their roots has been damaged, causing soil to be washed into our houses,” a local said.“Since authorities have been unable to deal with the problem, we decided to fix it ourselves,” he continued.Meanwhile, green trees on a section of Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District have become … [Read more...] about Social News

Hoi An authorities seek solution to noisy bars, dinersAuthorities in Hoi An, an iconic tourist town in central Vietnam, are seeking solutions for dealing with loud music from local bars in an effort to restore a peaceful atmosphere to the vintage destination.Located in the namesake city in Quang Nam Province, Hoi An Ancient Town was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and has long been famous for its tranquility and unique charm.Recent complaints by tourists, however, have local authorities worry that the destination may lose its tranquil charm due to loud music from local bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.The Hoi An People’s Committee announced on February 7 that it will invite local bar and hotel owners to reach a common ground on ensuring that business operations at certain venues do not compromise the interests of local residents and visitors.The meeting will be chaired by Nguyen Van Son, vice-chairman of the city’s administration and the man … [Read more...] about Social News 10/2

Tra Vinh: 6.2 mln USD to be spent on climate adaptation A rural road project in Tra Vinh (Source: http://bdkhtravinh.vn/site/633)Nearly 143 billion VND (6.2 million USD) will be spent to help farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh promote production models against climate change in 2018 in the framework of the on-going project Adaptation to Climate Change in the Mekong Delta (AMD). According to the project’s provincial coordination board, over 34.2 billion VND (1.5 million USD) of the amount will be the non-refundable aid from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and over 64.7 billion VND (2.8 million USD) is sourced by IFAD loans, while the provincial budget pays more than 23 billion VND (over 1 million USD). Huynh Nghia Tho, Director of the AMD Tra Vinh, said over 97 billion VND (4.2 million USD) out of the total will be used to improve livelihoods and build small-scale infrastructure facilities in adaptation to climate change; support … [Read more...] about Social News 5/2

Ho Chi Minh City launches activities to mark 1968 Tet Offensive Nguyen Van Binh book street in Ho Chi Minh CityAn array of activities are scheduled to take place from January 30 to February 4 at Nguyen Van Binh book street in Ho Chi Minh City to recount the General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1968, known in the West as the Tet Offensive.Notably, a model of the Ben Thanh market, which has been constructed from 1,000 books on the Spring 1968 campaign and the history of Ho Chi Minh City, is expected to catch the public’s attention.Various books on the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, as well as the history, renewal process and development of the City, will be introduced to visitors.Two forums themed “Saigon’s youth during the Spring 1968 campaign’ and ‘Memories about Spring 1968’ will also be held on January 30 and February 2 to mark the occasion.The speakers will be former members of the armed forces and … [Read more...] about Social News 30/1

Exhibition praises victory of 1968 Tet OffensiveCommando Ba Mu (whose real name is Do Van Can) disguised himself as a rubber latex collector to fool the enemy. He used a tricycle to transport weapons to serve the South Vietnam liberation forces during the 1968 Tet Offensive.The tricycle is on display at exhibition that has opened in Hanoi.Entitled The Epic of the 1968 Tet Offensive, the exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the victory of the campaign.The exhibition displays more than 300 images, documents and objects. Ba Mu’s tricycle is one among many objects showcased to the public for the first time.The exhibition is divided into three parts: devotion for the battlefield, the historical turning point and echoes of the epic. They depict the determination of Vietnamese people and soldiers in fighting for peace and liberation.“The Military History Museum of Vietnam organised the exhibition with the aim of asserting the historical magnitude and significance of the … [Read more...] about Social News 29/1

Fire destroys thousand sq. meter wood factory in Dong NaiA huge fire suddenly occurred at a wood factory of Shing Mark Company in Bai Xep Industrial Park, Trang Bom district, Dong Nai at midnight on January 15. Because materials inside the wood factory are easily ignited, the flame quickly spread out causing the firefighters to meet difficulties in order to access the site and localize the fire. By 5am today, the blaze was extinguished.The initial information showed that there was no death in the fire; however, the flame destroyed thousand sq. meter factory and burnt wood materials inside the factory. At present, the functional agencies have investigated the cause of the fire. HCM City ensures traffic safety for TetThe Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Safety Committee has deployed various measures to ensure traffic safety and order in the city before and during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.Nguyen Ngoc Tuong, deputy chief of the committee, said, “The campaign aims to … [Read more...] about Social News 16/1

Small-scale coffee farmer gets helping handLò Thị Phong from Chiềng Chung Commune in Mai Sơn District in the mountain province of Sơn La, has cultivated coffee for more than 10 years on 5,000 square metres of land, but she still finds life difficult.A decade seems long enough to improve farmining practices by trial-and-error, however, according to the middle-aged Thái woman, “even now, we still cannot keep proper financial accounts”.During discussions hosted by CARE International last week, stakeholders in the mountain coffee industry touched on deeper obstacles facing the industry.CARE has worked in Việt Nam since 1989, concentrating on supporting rights and sustainable development among vulnerable groups, particularly remote ethnic communities, poor women and girls and people vulnerable to climate change.Nguyễn Vĩnh Đức, deputy director of the Sơn La branch of the Minh Tiến Coffee Export Joint Stock … [Read more...] about Social News 15/1

Quang Binh one of the top ten destinations in Vietnam: Trip AdvisorIn 2017, Central Quang Binh Province ranks fourth among the top ten Vietnamese destinations after Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hoi An, according to the travel website Trip Advisor.Dang Dong Ha, vice director of the provincial Department of Tourism, said Quang Binh is known as the kingdom of caves and is a paradise waiting to be discovered on interesting tours of fascinating locations like Son Doong, Tu Lan cave system, Da Nhay beach, Thien Duong cave, Phong Nha-Tien Son, Chay River, and Toi cave.Quang Binh welcomed 100,000 foreign visitors for the first time in 2017, a year-on-year rise of 120%.Mr Ha attributed such a rise in popularity to the localities’ efforts in improving service quality and new tourism products, organizing a variety of promotional programs for local tourism like Quang Binh cave festival, and hosting Miss Grand International, all of which lured more visitors to the province. 21 explosions … [Read more...] about Social News 5/1