Social News 2/1 Deputy PM calls for more efforts to combat smuggling Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked ministries, sectors and localities to intensify the fight against smuggling and trade frauds. Law enforcement forces and localities need to work together to foster the effectiveness of their activities, Deputy PM Phuc, who is also the Head of the Steering Committee to combat smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods said at an online conference to determine the 2015 tasks for the committee on January 29. Additionally, they need to enact concerted measures to raise public awareness of the issue to involve people, organisations, associations and businesses in the combat, while improving the legal framework by reviewing existing policies and making necessary amendments, he added. Heads of localities must be accountable for any major and repeated acts of smuggling that damage residents. He urged law enforcement to set an example by coming down swiftly and harshly on major violators while ensuring transparent and open information during the process. Significant achievements were made in the fight against these illicit activities over the last year, contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development. More than 200,000 instances of smuggling were detected, generating more than 13 trillion VND (602 million USD) for the state budget, a 27.1 percent increase from 2013. As many as 2,275 individuals were prosecuted for violating the law. Owner suddenly shuts factory, workers unpaid Some 150 workers at Bay Nguyet Garment Company Ltd  have been abandoned by their boss, who has disappeared owing them hundreds of millions of VND in unpaid wages. Owner Chu Thi Minh Nguyet owes her workers about VND600m in back pay. She has not been seen for several days. Workers gathered on January 29 at the company's factory at No. 23/3, Trung Lan Village, Ba Diem Commune, Hoc Mon District to discuss what action they could take to recover wages going back to December. They say Bay Nguyet Garment Company began operations in Hoc Mon District in early 2014, and there had often been problems with late payment of wages. Workers have only received part of their pay for December, with the company promising to pay the balance and wages for January before the Tet holiday. But the company abruptly closed its doors on January 26 without any official announcement to workers, and when attempts were made to remove machinery on January 27, workers blocked access to the factory and informed local authorities. “The director said that we would get payment on January 14, before the Tet holiday," a worker said. "We have received nothing." The workers were told by a representative of Hoc Mon District Labour Federation Office that Nguyet had been contacted, and she had told the office she had paid all workers wages due. Several local businesses have joined the workers in their complaint, claiming Nguyet had not paid her bills, including rent and security services. Local authorities in Hoc Mon District said the company was registered in District 12, and authorities there had been contacted to deal with the case. Workers were advised to take their case to court. Can Tho City provides free-WiFi service The Department of Information and Communications in Can Tho City on January 29 announced that a free -WiFi service has been set up to serve tourists and local residents. Accordingly, the first free WiFi system will be set up at Ninh Kieu Wharf where most domestic and foreign tourists stop during their visit to the largest city in the Mekong Delta. Earlier, Saigon Postel Corp on November 18, 2014 started the free WiFi program with five WiFi routers at Ninh Kieu Wharf with a cost of more than VND1 billion. Through the program, Saigon Postel Corp said around 4,000 people have accessed the Internet via this free public WiFi every day. Vietnam tightens quarantine over imported farm produce Vietnam has implemented strict technical measures to ensure food hygiene and safety especially to imported farm produce, said head of Plant Protection Department Nguyen Xuan Hong at meeting on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s department, the volume of quarantined farm produce that were imported or domestically produced last year increased 166 percent over the two previous years. Vietnam imported 21 million ton farm produce in 2014. Border quarantine agencies tested 950 samples from 4.1 million tons and uncovered only five samples breaking food safety regulations. That was because authorized agencies have intensified inspection and control over imported agricultural products for the last three years. Related to the U.S. contaminated apples that might been imported to Vietnam, Mr. Hong said that quarantine agencies have collected the U.S. apple samples for testing. After the U.S. apple case and Vietnam’s fruit import halt from Australia due to a fruit fly outbreak in the country, Mr. Hong said that these incidents would not affect Vietnam’s fruit market supply and prices because the country is importing fruits from many nations and domestic supply is very abundant. Besides, Vietnam has more exported fruits than imported. Last year total fruit and vegetable export turnover reached US$1.5 billion while imports hit US$521 million. Hanoi leader presents Tet gifts to disadvantaged locals Chairman of Hanoi’s People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao presented nearly 250 Tet gift packages to poor and policy beneficiary families during his working visit to My Duc district on January 29. My Duc is Hanoi’s farthest outlying district neighouring Hoa Binh province with 70 percent of its population from the Muong ethnic minority group and 45 percent being Catholic followers. Hanoi has decided to earmark 230 billion VND for gifts to disadvantaged people on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year festival, Thao revealed at the meeting with locals. He said the capital has recorded higher economic growth over years, contributed by tireless efforts of sectors and citizens. According to the chairman, the municipal authorities have paid special attention to building new-style rural areas, with an emphasis on developing infrastructural facilities for education and health care, electricity and road network as well as that serving agriculture production. So far, over 100 communes in the city have met all the 19 criteria required for new rural areas, while new cultivation-specializing areas were formed, contributing to promoting the locality’s socio-economic growth and improving local people’ living standards, Thao reported. College inaugurates Truong Sa sovereignty monument An obelisk representing Truong Sa island’s sovereignty marker was inaugurated on the Nha Trang Vocational Tourism College campus on January 29. The monument, standing 4.5 metres high and 2.4 metres wide and build out of concrete and steel rods, represents the spirit of solidarity and determination to protect the national marine territorial sovereignty. Its presence on the campus is designed to raise awareness and understanding of the East Sea dispute and Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes. The drive was organised in honor of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on February 3 rd 1930 by the Nha Trang Vocational Tourism College under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.- Support for disadvantaged, war veterans for upcoming New Year Localities across the country are working to provide for local disadvantaged individuals and war veterans on the quickly-approaching Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. The Mekong Delta province of An Giang set aside more than 47 billion VND (2.2 million USD) to cover activities in celebration of the holiday. Accordingly, the province will offer 350,000 VND (16 USD) to around 70,000 people covered by social security, and 600,000 VND (28 USD) to nearly 34,000 individuals and families who served the nation in wartime. As many as 271 local poor households will be able to enjoy the upcoming holiday comfortably in donated new homes, thanks to contributions from the Vietnam Commercial Bank and the An Giang Lottery Company. The provincial Fatherland Front Committee also plans to give gifts worth at least 300,000 VND (14 USD) to every household below the poverty line, or about 46,000 families. Similarly, thousands of gifts worth billions of Vietnamese dong have been offered to impoverished individuals in central Quang Binh province. Another 200 gifts, each worth 300,000 VND (14 USD) have been presented to poor households in the Truong Xuan commune of Quang Ninh district. More than 200 ethnic minority elderly and children in the district have also received free health check-ups on the occasion. Meanwhile in central Quang Ngai province, more than 660 million VND (31 million USD) donated by teachers and students at the Republic of Korea’s Chung Ang University and Doosan Vietnam – Doosan Vina Company will be spent on activities to support residents in Ly Son island district, among others. The activities include hygiene demonstrations, making handicrafts, drawing, and art performances, which take place from January 26 to February 6. Winners of Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts Awards announced Winners of the 2013 – 2014 Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts (TCLA) Awards were announced and presented with awards at a ceremony held in Hanoi on January 29. Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Secretary and Head of the CPVCC Commission for Communication and Education, Dinh The Huynh attended the event. Two ‘A’ prizes went to books entitled ‘The shade on the road’ by poet Vu Quan Phuong and ‘Assessing values of literary works’ by Associate Professor, Doctor Phan Trong Thuong. The Central Council for the Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts (CCTCLA) also presented eleven ‘B’ prizes, eight ‘C’ prizes and four consolation prizes to outstanding works. Addressing the ceremony, Politburo member Huynh commended the Awards for significantly contributing to promoting the development of the nation’s theory and criticism of literature and arts. He also expressed his hope that the CCTCLA will continue to improve the efficiency of the awards in order to attract more poets, writers, theoricians and criticisers, promoting the TCLA activities. On the same day, the CCTCLA held its 11th session to review its activities in 2014 and set goals for 2015. Chairing the meeting, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, Le Hong Anh praised the achievements of the CCTCLA in 2014, including implementation of the State-level scientific project themed ‘The Theory of Arts in Vietnam – Reality and Orientations of Development’ and successful organisation of national seminars on the country’s literature and arts. He also asked the Council to focus on promoting its activities to improve the quality of literary and art works. Boosting tourism cooperation in eight northwestern provinces A conference to review the tourism development cooperation programme implemented by eight northwestern provinces was held in Moc Chau district, Son La province on January 30. The 2010-2015 programme was signed five years ago by representatives of eight northwestern provinces, including Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Ha Giang. Many activities were held within the programme such as building mechanism on tourism management, developing tourism products and training human resources. In 2014, eight northwestern provinces attracted 14.3 million arrivals and earned VND7,825 billion, up 22.5% compared to 2013. Last year, the eight provinces had over 1,600 accommodations, meeting increasing number of visitors. Some new tourism routes were explored. Besides, images of northwestern region are now well-known through tourism promotions activities, international tourism fairs and enjoy great support of the European Union. At the conference, delegates discussed building a plan to organize the national tourism year in northwestern region in 2017 and a tourism development project during 2015-2020. U.S. Ambassador hosts reception in honor of U.S. Government Exchange Alumni U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius last Friday hosted a reception at the Hilton Hotel for 150 alumni of various U.S. Government exchange programs.   There are a total of 4,000 Vietnamese alumni of different U.S. Government exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, the International Visitor Leadership Program, the Humphrey Program, the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program, the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program, the Vietnam Education Foundation, the Global Undergraduate Programs and other programs for Vietnamese youth.   These alumni are contributing greatly to the development of Vietnam and U.S. Vietnam relations.  Speaking at the reception, Ambassador Osius said, “The more Vietnamese alumni are working together and coordinating on issues that matter, the better off we will all be… We are eager to hear your recommendations on how we can build on the Comprehensive Partnership and strengthen our ties in 2015 and beyond.” In July 2014, the Vietnam-U.S. Alumni Club (VUSAC) was established under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) in order to promote networking among these alumni and help them better achieve these important things. The reception was one of the important events the U.S. Mission is doing in 2015 to mark the 20th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam relations.   During this year, the U.S. Mission in Vietnam plans to celebrate with major events highlighting our journey during the last 20 years and, more importantly, where we can go in the future.   “We plan to celebrate the future of Vietnam through events in each of Vietnam’s 63 provinces.  The United States wants to share this anniversary with all of the people of Vietnam—from Cao Bang to Ca Mau and everywhere in between,” said Ambassador Osius at the reception. Source: VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri/ND