Social News 11/4 (Hourly Updated) Yen Bai police seize 4 bricks of heroin, 400 synthetic drug pills   Police from the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai have arrested a man suspected of trafficking four bricks of heroin and 400 pills of synthetic drugs. Lo Van Quang, 34, residing in Mu Cang Chai town of Yen Bai Province, was caught red-handed on April 2, as he was in the process of smuggling four bricks of heroin and 400 synthetic drug pills to Mu Cang Chai town. Quang gave an initial confession, saying he was hired to transport the drugs by an unknown man in Yen Bai province. Police of Yen Bai Province are prosecuting the case and have remanded Quang in custody for the trafficking of heroin and synthetic drugs. The case is under further investigation. Central province cracks down on overfishing A patrol boat of Quảng Bình Province (left) inspects a fishing vessel suspected of violating seafood harvesting in May 2017.  The People’s Committee of Quảng Bình Province on Monday requested concerned agencies to apply strict measures to prevent the overexploitation of seafood in the coastal waters of the province. The committee requested the province’s agricultural department, fisheries branch and sea border guards to collaborate to identify fishing trawlers that deliberately overexploited seafood resources. “These agencies are to provide consultation to the province’s authorities to regulate specific penalties for these trawlers,” reads an official order sent by the committee to the agencies. “The province will establish a hotline number to receive reports from localities and fishermen in terms of violations in seafood harvesting, especially overfishing,” it reads. “Localities are to further inform residents and raise awareness of protecting and sustaining coastal aquatic resources.” The coastal aquatic resources of the province have been damaged by excessive trawling activities, raising concerns among residents. Most of the fishing trawlers come from other provinces in the central region, such as Quảng Ngãi, Quảng Nam and Bình Định. Some 100 cases of seafood harvesting violations have been discovered in the province since the beginning of this year. They were fined hundreds of millions of đồng. Court hears appeal in property scam   Châu Thị Thu Nga at the court.   The Hà Nội People’s Court started hearing an appeal by former National Assembly member Châu Thị Thu Nga on Tuesday in the VNĐ377 billion (US$16.8 million) property scam case. The case involved Nga, chairwoman of the Land and Housing Construction and Investment JSC (Housing Group), and nine others. At the first hearing last October, the high-level People’s Court sentenced Nga to life imprisonment for swindling and illegal asset appropriation. It also handed down jail terms of six years, four years, 30 months and 24 months, respectively, to four former general directors of Housing Group: Nguyễn Trường Sơn, Lê Hồng Cương, Nguyễn Vũ Hùng and Phan Thanh Tuyên. Other people sentenced in the case included two former directors of Housing Group’s real estate trading company, Nguyễn Thị Tình and Lưu Thị Thúy, who will be imprisoned for seven and three years, respectively. The former chief accountants of the Housing Group, Phạm Thị Thu Hạnh and Đinh Phúc Hiếu, got three years and a three-year suspended sentence, respectively. Đoàn Thị Thanh Thủy, former acting chief accountant of the group, got two years in prison. The court said Nga and her accomplices publicised false information about the B5 Cầu Diễn project, deceiving and misappropriating nearly VNĐ377 billion (over $16.5 million) from 726 customers who paid for 752 apartments. She returned nearly VNĐ29 billion to 43 customers who did not receive the apartments, but kept more than VNĐ348 billion, including VNĐ157 billion, which she spent without producing receipts or documentation. The court found Nga guilty of masterminding the swindle and spending all the money. In a letter of appeal sent to the Hà Nội People’s Court later, Nga denied the charges she had been convicted of and claimed her sentence was too harsh. She also appealed against the court’s decision asking her to return VNĐ54 billion ($2.4 million) to the victims of the scam. According to the indictment, the B5 Cầu Diễn project in North Từ Liêm District, Hà Nội City, was within the land assigned by the State to the Hà Nội Import-Export Investment Construction and Development One Member Co Ltd (HAIC) for production and business activities. It was a resettlement housing project meant to serve the urban traffic development in the capital city, and not for commercial housing. However, Nga signed a partnership contract with Nguyễn Văn Tuấn, HAIC chairman, to co-invest in the B5 project. The two intended to use the B5 land to construct apartment buildings and villas. The investigation found that the new plans for the project had not been granted a construction licence by the Hà Nội People’s Committee, but the group lured unsuspecting buyers to commercial housing through false advertisements. Between 2009 and 2013, by showing unapproved drawings of the apartments, Nga and her accomplices signed some 752 capital contribution contracts, collecting VNĐ377 billion from home buyers, with a promise to transfer the usage rights for 752 apartments from the second to the 33rd floor in a residential complex. Nga returned some VNĐ29 billion ($1.3 million) to buyers who withdrew from the project, but was unable to repay the remaining VNĐ348 billion ($15.5 million) because it had already been spent. Following complaints from buyers who did see any progress in the apartments they had bought, Nga was arrested and her house raided in January 2015 by the police from the Ministry of Public Security. Nga was the mastermind who lured the other accused to commit crimes and also used all the appropriated money. The court will last through next Monday. Low quality prawns trouble farmers   Breeding prawns in Bạc Liêu Province  As a new season of prawn breeding approaches, a rash of low quality juvenile prawns this year is troubling farmers in Mekong Delta provinces, the country’s major prawn-producing area. According to local authorities, most of these juvenile prawns were imported from other provinces as home-grown production failed to meet demand. Since the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, Đinh Văn Phong, a farmer at Long Điền Đông A Commune in Đông Hải District in Bạc Liêu Province, has released juvenile prawns three times only to see all of them die. “Probably their quality was so bad that they could not grow bigger,” he told the Lao Động (Labour) newspaper. In March, a week-long interdisciplinary inspection by Bạc Liêu Province authorities detected dozens of trucks transporting juvenile prawns without clear origin and quarantine certificates to be sold in Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau provinces, said Nguyễn Duy Hưng, deputy head of Bạc Liêu’s veterinary and animal husbandry branch. In the evening of March 6 alone, six trucks were found transporting 10 million juvenile prawns with such lack of documentation. All the trucks had licence plates indicating they were from the central provinces of Ninh Thuận and Khánh Hòa, home to a great number of farms breeding juvenile prawns. Huỳnh Thanh Tòng, an inspector of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said most of these low quality juvenile prawns came from central provinces. They accounted for 50 per cent of juvenile prawns sold in the market. However, even when violations were detected, it was hard to address them due to the absence of strict rules and provisions for punishment, said a member of the interdisciplinary inspection team. According to local authorities, the demand for juvenile prawns in Cà Mau Province outnumbers the amount that area growing farms could supply. Likewise, the number of home-grown juvenile prawns only accounts for 60 per cent of the demand in Bạc Liêu. To tackle the issue, Dương Thành Trung, chairman of Bạc Liêu People’s Committee, said the province would reorganise the provincial prawn markets to make it easier to trade juvenile prawns. “We will also install machines for quick quality tests to help buyers detect low quality prawns,” he said, adding that more severe punishment would be imposed on transporters of such prawns. On April 6, representatives of 11 provinces in the central and southern regions, both producers and consumers of juvenile prawns, signed a cooperation document to better control the production and consumption of these products. Vietnam – Denmark conference discuss chronic diseases prevention   Danish Minister of Health Ellen Trane Norby speaks at the workshop   A workshop spotlighting Vietnam – Denmark cooperation on non-communicable disease prevention took place at the Hanoi Medical University on April 10. Co-organised by the university and Denmark Embassy in Vietnam, the workshop focused on the importance of grassroots health care and awareness-raising regarding non-communicable diseases. It was attended by visiting Danish Minister of Health Ellen Trane Norby. Reports at the discussion showed an upward trend of chronic diseases and related deaths in Vietnam. According to latest data, for every 10 deaths, seven were due to non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, cancer or lung issues. The country is estimated to have some 12 million people suffering from high blood pressure, nearly 3 million diabetes patients and 2 million with chronic heart and lung diseases, in addition to 120,000 new cancer cases every year. The leading causes were deemed to be smoking, drinking, heavy consumption of fat and little intake of vegetables or fruits and lack of physical exercise. The Danish health minister said both Vietnam and Denmark are undertaking reform of their medical sector with an aim toward making initial healthcare a major factor in reducing the rate of chronic diseases. The sector is also a direct cooperative area between the two countries, she added. The official said health care reforms and technology application must be intensified to ensure everyone’s access to care. The health ministries of Denmark and Vietnam are piloting a new approach to non-communicable diseases in 30 commune-level health stations in four districts of the northern province of Thai Binh, aiming at building primary care capacity at the grassroots level. Selected health workers in these areas are set to start their training on April 11, with learning materials co-developed by both Danish and Vietnamese experts. Seven-day challenge encourages sustainable lifestyle At the launch ceremony  The seven-day Challenge – Eat, Move, and Live Sustainably was launched in Hanoi on April 10 in response to Earth Day 2018 (April 22) themed “End Plastic Pollution”.  The event, co-organised by the United Nations, the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam and the Live & Learn Environmental Education Centre, calls on people to live, eat and move smartly and sustainably to improve life quality. It has three spells, starting from April 10, April 17 or April 24 and last for a week.  UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra said the UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development requires not only commitments of governments but also strong efforts of 7 billion people worldwide.  Vietnamese singer My Linh, Ambassador of the campaign, talked about her family’s lifestyle in scientific and eco-friendly way.  During the challenge, participants could eat vegan or choose locally-grown produce, travel by bicycles or go walking instead of riding vehicles with fossil fuel, or seek ways to save energy and reduce wastes at home. Vietnam-Cuba friendship exchange opens in Hanoi   The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Central Committee of the Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA) co-organised the Vietnam – Cuba friendship exchange in Hanoi on April 10. Attending the event were VUFO Vice President and General Secretary Don Tuan Phong, Permanent Vice Chairman of the VCFA Central Committee Nguyen Duy Cuong, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP) Fernando Gonzalez Llort, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera, and Cuban hero Antonio Gurrero Rodrigue.  Gonzalez Llort and Gurrero Rodrigue were two out of five undercover agents who were detained by the US. The Cuban government then launched a global campaign calling for their freedom. After serving reduced sentences, they were awarded with hero title upon returning home.  Speaking at the event, Permanent Vice Chairman of the VCFA Central Committee Nguyen Duy Cuong said 2018 marks the 67th anniversary of Moncada victory (July 26), the 165th birthday of Cuban leader Jose Marti (January 28), the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit to Vietnam’s southern liberation area and the 55th anniversary of the Cuban Committee of Solidarity with South Vietnam.  He said the VCFA selected 71 speeches about Vietnam by Fidel Castro for translation and publication in Vietnam, which will be sponsored by the Vietnam News Agency.  The ICAP President expressed his delight at meeting Vietnamese friends who previously had a close attachment to Cuba, VCFA members and those who actively joined Cuba’s revolutionary fight for justice.  He wished that ties between Vietnam and Cuba would be tightened in the future.  Hero Rodrigue, for his part, said he always misses and loves Vietnam and its people, and arriving in Vietnam was his wish during detention in the past.  He believed that Vietnam – Cuba ties will be everlasting.  Earlier, VUFO Vice President and General Secretary Don Tuan Phong hosted a reception for ICAP President Gonzalez Llort, during which both sides discussed joint work between the ICAP and the VUFO.  Phong said the two sides will sign a new cooperation agreement in 2019 to extend their relations.  The guest wished to foster bilateral ties via mutual visits and people-to-people exchange. Vietnam hands over Lao military art troupe’s headquarters   The Vietnam-funded headquarters of the Lao military art troupe   The Vietnam-funded headquarters of the Lao military art troupe was handed over to the Lao military in Vientiane on April 10. The construction is billed as a gift from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence to the Lao People’s Army on the occasion of 70th anniversary of the Lao army and 50th birthday of its art troupe. The five-storey building was constructed on an area of over 3,000 square metres at a total investment of nearly 6 million USD, 5.5 million USD of which was provided by Vietnam and the remainder came from Laos’ corresponding fund. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, deputy head of the General Department of Politics under the Lao People’s Army Sonethong Phomlavong thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence for its support, affirming that the construction is a vivid illustration for the solidarity between the two ministries. He stressed that it will make significant contributions to nurturing the special friendship between the two Parties, States and armies. Vietnamese Office for Seeking Missing Persons marks 45th anniversary   VNOSMP Director Le Thanh Tung speaks at the event   The Vietnamese Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) held a ceremony in Hanoi on April 10 celebrating its 45th founding anniversary.  Speaking at the event, VNOSMP Director Le Thanh Tung said the office is an inter-sectoral group under the management of the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Public Security.  Over the past 45 years, thousands of VNOSMP staff together with tens of thousands of personnel from local authorities and walks of life nationwide have sought remains of US servicemen missing in action.  Both Vietnam and the US have conducted 130 joint activities, with 972 sets of remains being handed over to the US, nearly 720 of which have been identified.  Vietnam’s goodwill and full cooperation has been welcomed by the US administration and Congress, the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and the US war veterans’ organisations, which also stepped up the US’s efforts to address war consequences in Vietnam, especially post-war bomb and mine clearance and dioxin clean-up in Da Nang and Phu Cat airports, and then Bien Hoa airport in the near future.  In particular, the US war veterans’ organisations have provided information regarding more than 11,000 Vietnamese martyrs, thus helping Vietnam seek over 1,000 remains, Tung said.  Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said the VNOSMP needs to continue staying united and working closely with ministries, agencies and localities in the effort.  He suggested stepping up policy consultation with attention given to the US’s new proposals.  As Vietnam and the US will mark the 30th anniversary of the joint search for remains of US servicemen this year, Ngoc asked the office to outline a report reviewing its activities, considering it an important milestone to popularise Vietnam’s humanitarian cooperation.  Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh urged the VNOSMP to improve capacity and raise public awareness of the search.  Deputy Director of the General Department of Security under the Ministry of Public Security Duong Minh Hung applauded VNOSMP for properly dealing with contingencies during the process. Vietnam joins ASEAN food festival to help poor children The Vietnamese Embassy brought traditional “pho” to the ASEAN food festival.   Vietnam joined nine other ASEAN countries and the bloc’s partners in an ASEAN food festival on April 10 to enhance cultural exchanges and mobilise funds for impoverished children in the Southeast Asian region. The Vietnamese Embassy brought to the festival the traditional “pho”, which drew attention of many visitors. Lee Yoong Yoong, Director, Community Affairs Directorate, said that the annual food fair served two purposes: for ASEAN Women Circle to raise fund, and for ASEAN to promote people to people connectivity.  "After all, food - just like sports and music - have that x-factor to bring people together," he said.  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam Its partners include Canada, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Russia, China, New Zealand, India, the US, Japan and the EU. Central Highlands region works to prevent forest fire in dry season   The Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong and Lam Dong are taking many precautious measures to prevent forest fires as the region is in the peak of the dry season. The provinces have made efforts to raise awareness of forest fire prevention among local people who live nearby fire-prone forests. Officials have been sent to villages to talk to people and urge them not to make a fire inside forests. They have also kept a close watch on people and vehicles going in and out forests to prevent illegal hunting and to stop people from using smoke to remove bees and harvest honey. Dozens of thousands of households living surrounding forest areas were asked to sign commitments to forest fire prevention and forest protection while villagers were provided with instruction on proper slash-and-burn cultivation practices.  Besides, hundreds of teams were set up at villages, hamlets and companies to be prepared for any fire emergency. Local forest owners have repaired and constructed thousands of km of firebreak and erected signs warning fire risk and fire watchtowers while people have been allocated to regularly patrol the forests and watch out fire around the clock at fire-prone areas. The Central Highlands has more than 2.55 million hectares of forests, of which over 324,200 hectares are planted forests and the remainder is natural forests.  Dak Lak and Gia Lai have the largest fire-prone forest areas of about 300,000 and 225,000 hectares, respectively. Greetings to Khmer people in Can Tho on Chol Chnam Thmay VFF Central Committee President Tran Thanh Man presents gifts to Can Tho Patriotic Clergy Solidarity Association   President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man visited Patriotic Clergy Solidarity Association of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho as well as Khmer people in the locality on the occasion of the ethnic group’s Chol Chnam Thmay traditional New Year festival. The VFF leader wished Khmer people a warm, cheerful and happy New Year festival. Briefing members of the Can Tho Patriotic Clergy Solidarity Association on major policies of the Party and State toward the development of the Khmer community and the Mekong Delta region, Man hailed the Khmer group’s contributions to the growth of the country. He expressed his hope that Khmer Buddhist dignitaries and people in Can Tho will continue promoting solidarity and joining hands with local authorities to fulfil all set targets, while actively responding to VFF movements and campaigns. Man also called on the Khmer community to strictly abide by the Law on Belief and Religion, thus fostering the great national solidarity. Most Venerable Dao Nhu, member of the VFF Central Committee’s Presidium and Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council, said that the living conditions of Khmer people in Can Tho have been improved significantly.  Worshipping facilities of the Khmer group have been expanded, along with the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Academy, he said. On the occasion, the VFF leader presented 10 gifts to Buddhist monks from pagodas of of the Can Tho Patriotic Clergy Solidarity Association, as well as two Khmer families. This year, Chol Chnam Thmay, the most important festival of Khmer people in a year, will take place from April 14-16.- Husbandry sector curbs use of banned substances    The use of banned substances in animal husbandry has been curbed in the first quarter of this year, the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) said at a thematic conference on food quality and safety on April 10.  According to NAFIQAD director Nguyen Nhu Tiep, the rate of contamination among meat samples has reduced remarkably compared to 2017.  In a large-scale inspection conducted by central agencies and 39 out of 63 provinces and centrally-run cities in the first quarter, no Salbutamol traces were found in all 145 meat samples and 678 samples of animal urine.  Only one out of 418 taken samples of meat (0.24 percent) was found to contain traces of chemicals and antibiotic exceeding permitted level, down from 0.63 percent in 2017.  The rate of samples containing pesticides exceeding permitted level was 0.51 percent (three out of 594 taken samples), slightly lower than the 0.6 percent recorded in 2017.  However, the rate of contamination of chemical and antibiotic in aquatic product increased, with 24 out of 819 samples found breaking the permissible level, or 2.93 percent, up from 0.89 percent recorded last year. In the first quarter, agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) coordinated with other agencies and local administrations to conduct regular and surprise inspections of agro-forestry-fishery production and business establishment.  “Relevant agencies at both central and local levels have strictly punished those responsible for the violations of food safety regulations,” Tiep said.  Besides, agencies responsible for food safety also worked to address obstacles to the export of agro-forestry-fishery products, including holding talks with inspection teams from Japan, Australia, the US, Canada and Saudi Arabia on food safety in agro-fishery production and trading.  The agencies have undertaken measures to address technical barriers in order to maintain and expand the export of agro-fishery products.  Director Tiep said in the remaining months of this year, the MARD will continue to instruct drastic measures to ensure food safety, mainly targeting fresh products, small-scale slaughterhouses and small traders, and the use of pesticide and antibiotic in agricultural production and aquaculture. Poll: More Czechs fond of Vietnamese community Vietnamese expats celebrate their traditional New Year festival in the Czech Republic  Czechs continue to prefer Slovaks the most of all ethnic groups and their perception of the Vietnamese improved in the past year, according to a CVVM poll. The Czech News Agency (CTK) cited the results of the CVVM poll as reporting that 37 percent of the correspondents said they like the Vietnamese. The liking of the Vietnamese grew as compared to the previous poll and they are perceived the most positively since 2013, when the CVVM agency first enquired about it. Up to 80 percent of Czechs like Slovaks, followed by the Polish, with one half of Czechs being fond of them. Concerning another five groups, the share of the respondents who like them prevail over those who do not, including the Greeks (38 percent), Jews (30 percent), Germans (34 percent), Hungarians (30 percent) and Bulgarians (25 percent). According to recent data of the Czech Statistical office (CSU), there were 493,400 foreigners living in the Czech Republic with 10.5 million inhabitants at the end of 2016, of whom there were 110,000 Ukrainians, 107,251 Slovaks and 58,025 Vietnamese. The Roma are the largest ethnic minority in the country, with estimated 245,800 people contributing to almost 2.3 percent of the country's population. In 2013, the European country recognised the Vietnamese community as one of its ethnic groups. Czech President Miloš Zeman said the Vietnamese community have been integrating well into Czech society. Cambodia inaugurates TV broadcasting station financed by Vietnam Delegates at the inaugural ceremony   A television broadcasting station - a gift of the Vietnamese Government - was inaugurated in Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province on April 10. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Governor of the province Mel Vibol appreciated the significance and role of the new TV broadcasting station in improving locals’ spiritual life. It will also help disseminate the Cambodian government’s policies and laws to and improve knowledge of residents in border areas, he added. Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh affirmed that this is a symbol for effective cooperation between the two countries. He spoke highly of efforts by both Vietnamese and Cambodian officials and workers to complete the station, thus helping intensify the locality’s socio-economic development and locals’ living conditions. Since 2008, Vietnam has helped build 19 FM radio and two TV broadcasting stations. This year, the Vietnamese government will finance three TV broadcasting stations for Cambodia, with Radio the Voice of Vietnam continuing to be responsible of building the station and installing equipment. Tâm secures third win in cycling event Cyclists race at the 12 stage of the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament on Tuesday. — Photo sggp.org.vn Nguyễn Thành Tâm scored a hattrick at the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament with a win in the 12th stage yesterday. Tâm of Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang completed the 40km stage around Quảng Ngãi City in one hour, two mins and 17 seconds. He made a strong sprint in the last few metres, leaving arch rival Lê Nguyệt Minh of Minh Giang-HCM City behind to take the top podium. He had earlier won the second and 11th stages. The win pushed Tâm to the second position in the overall ranking and threatened the leading role of Huỳnh Thanh Tùng of Military Zone 7, who came eighth yesterday. Tùng maintained his position as the leader after 12 stages, with a total time of 28 hours, 53 minutes and 49 seconds, but he was just 17 seconds faster than Tâm. Minh is the No 1 candidate in the race to take the green jersey. He has so far scored 130 points. In the team ranking, VUS-HCM City were on top, followed by Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang and Military Zone 7. The next stage is from Quảng Ngãi to Quy Nhơn City in Bình Định Province and will cover 181km. Hoàng Anh Gia Lai beat Quảng Ninh 5-0 Nguyễn Văn Toàn (left) and Nguyễn Công Phượng score one goal each in Hoàng Anh Gia Lai’s 5-0 win over Quảng Ninh Coal in the National Cup on Monday. — Photo vietnamplus.vn Hoàng Anh Gia Lai trounced Quảng Ninh Coal 5-0 in the first round match of the National Cup on Monday in Pleiku. It was a strong comeback for the former national champions after their 0-5 loss to Hà Nội FC in the V.League last week. The win came to Hoàng Anh Gia Lai easier than expected as Quảng Ninh had rested many of their key players on the bench. Hoàng Anh Gia Lai players started attacking from the first whistle, and they had the opener just 10 minutes into the game. Nguyễn Văn Toàn received a smart ball from captain Lương Xuân Trường. He left many Quảng Ninh players behind before beating goalkeeper Tuấn Linh with a straight finish. After his assist, Trường scored a goal from a penalty kick to push the score to 2-0 at the 36th minute. It was 4-0 for Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in the second half when Rimario netted twice before striker Nguyễn Công Phượng ended the game with a powerful fire three minutes to the end. Coach Phan Thanh Hùng tried to make some changes, calling senior players to the field in the second half, but they also failed to score a single goal. While Hoàng Anh Gia Lai’s coaching board was pleased with their five-star victory, Hùng was disappointed. "We suffered a humiliating loss because we could not convert our opportunities into goals. I always considered Hoàng Anh Gia Lai a strong team with outstanding individuals. Today’s loss will be a major lesson for us," said Hùng. "We had a good and confident start. It is a pity that we suffered an early goal loss, which totally changed our plan. It might have been different if we could have scored a goal in the first half," he said, adding that the rarefied air in the Central Highland city of Pleiku had partly contributed to his loss. Hoàng Anh Gia Lai will next play defending champions Quảng Nam in the last 16 rounds. In another match, Hà Nội FC wasted many threatening opportunities against Đắk Lắk leading to a goalless result in the official time. The match could only be decided after a penalty shootout, where the 4-2 win went to Hà Nội, whose goalkeeper Phí Minh Long twice denied Đắk Lắk’s kicks. Hà Nội will see Sài Gòn FC in the next round. In other matches, HCM City beat Đồng Tháp 1-0 and Sanna Khánh Hoà won 2-1 over Huế.  VNN