Social News 3/5 Red Cross activities integrated into climate change response   More than 15,000 households in 14 cities and provinces who announced natural disaster status, have received initial support from the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC). Vice President of the VRC Central Committee Tran Thi Hong An told an April 27-28 event, that by April 24, 2016, the organisation had mobilised over 25 billion VND (1.1 million USD) donated by people from all walks of life to aid natural disaster victims. The conference, jointly held by the VRC, the German Red Cross (GRC) and the VRC’s chapter in Quang Binh province, aims to assess the risks and impacts of climate change and how red cross activities can work in response to climate change. As part of the GRC-funded “Community-based disaster risk management” project, the event is due to create an opportunity for the VRC, and relevant agencies, to promote the integration of climate change adaptation into the management of risks and disasters in Vietnam. It is expected to enhance coordination between ministries, agencies, localities, organisations at home and abroad, and partners of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, in disaster mitigation and climate change adaptation. Delegates will focus on practical activities and solutions to deal with the problem in the context that climate change is becoming a headache to Vietnam. Vietnam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change globally, with the most obvious evidence being the severe drought and saltwater intrusion in the central, Central Highlands and Mekong Delta regions. The Southeast Asian nation has to grapple with up to 15 storms and floods each year, which have in recent years seriously affected half of the land and over 70 percent of the population in disaster-prone areas. In 2013 alone, a total of 14 storms and floods swept through the country, affecting more than 4 million people – the highest ever recorded in the past decade. According to the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the rainfall in the Central Highlands and south central region from late 2015 to the present is very low, with hydropower reservoirs containing much less water than their designed capacity, and some small reservoirs even being dried out. The drought has effected some 70 percent of the cultivation areas in these regions, with Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan being the hardest hit. Saltwater has intruded as far as 90km inland in the Mekong Delta, about 10-25km farther than usual. Up to 11 out of the 13 cities and provinces in the delta were affected by salinity which caused serious water shortages and damaged agriculture production. As of April 13, 2016, more than 390,000 households in the Central Highlands, Mekong Delta and south central region were faced with water shortages. Drought and saltwater intrusion damaged over 232,000 ha of rice, 61,992 ha of fruit, and 4,052 ha of seafood. The total economic loss was estimated at over 5.1 trillion VND (229.5 million USD). PernodRicard creating skilled bartenders Today’s millennials are facing risks during the school-to-work transition. Young people with different work experience have different demand for jobs, skills, and training, and capacity to work. The unemployment rate is at its highest among youngsters facing a difficult living environment. This motivated PernodRicard, the leading global distilled beverages producer, to initiate the annual short-term career training program called “Start-up Bartender”. The programs were launched in partnership with the Nguyen Truong To Vocational School’s bartending department, with the aim of providing young people from disadvantaged families with a stable job and certain skills. After five years, nearly 500 students have graduated from the three-month training program. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh, Managing Director of PernodRicard Vietnam, said that “In Vietnam we recognize the need to offer specialized vocational training and occupational skills for young people, especially those in difficult circumstances. According to the General Statistics Office, the working age population in Vietnam is now more than 53 million, and among these, many vulnerable youth in the country lack access to affordable skills training and a career path. To respond to this need, PernodRicard has partnered with Nguyen Truong To’s bartending department in Ho Chi Minh City to invest in the future of some of these youth. The positive results we have seen so far have been a great inspiration to us to maintain the program over the past four years.” Program participants are equipped with the knowledge necessary to become a professional bartender. As a community program, job opportunities are offered to 80 per cent of graduates each year. Trainees also have the chance to learn from international bartenders in an extracurricular class in professional ethics and responsible drinking. Many of the trainees have set the bar high. Ms. Mai Thao, an outstanding student from 2014, was recently recognized as one of the Top 5 in the Asia Pacific Cocktail Competition held in Singapore. The program is expected to encourage trainees, like Mai Thao, to pursue their dream in the world of bartending and achieve greater success. “Start-up Bartender” is part of PernodRicard’s community investment. The global group has implemented various programs that encourage responsible drinking, promote the development of local communities, and help protect the environment, in 85 countries where they operate. PernodRicard is a member of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), which encourages consumers to enjoy their drinks responsibly. In Vietnam it also participates in the Vietnam Alliance for Responsible Drinking forum. VND4trillion invested in Dong Phu-Binh Duong traffic project The People's Committee of Binh Phuoc province yesterday in coordination with Binh Phuoc Rubber Company inaugurated the BOT traffic project Dong Phu -Binh Duong. The Dong Phu-Binh Duong route has a total length of 42km linking national highway No.14 to Phu Giao district, Binh Duong province. The project is divided two phases with total investment capital of VND 4trillion. The 1st phase includes 2 lanes with its speed of 70km per hour and the second phase has 4 lanes with its speed of 80km per hour. Deputy Chairman Huynh Anh Minh said it is the provincial important traffic route linking the provincial routes to Binh Duong province and the central highlands provinces. It will help reduce number of vehicles on National highway No.14 and DT 741 and attract investment in Dong Phu Industrial-Service-Urban Area project, contributing to promote socioeconomic development in Binh Phuoc. Project to establish consultation board for students The Ministry of Education and Training yesterday in Hanoi held a meeting on the implementation of the project “Increasing educating ethics and healthy lifestyle for young people for the period 2015-2020”. The project will be carried out by the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the union of Youth Communist. The project targets that at least 90 percent of colleges which students enrolled in 3 year programs and universities which students enrolled in 4 year programs established a board to provide learning, social activities, charitable activities, behavioral rules. Deputy Education Minister Nguyen Thi Nghia said that at present, education of ethic an lifestyle for students through activities in schools is reformed. The Ministry in coordination with the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education will work out on the content for the project. Schools and the Ministry of Education are reforming the extra-activities. Accordingly, the education sector needs the cooperation and support of the central union of Youth Communist and local authorities to offer a healthy environment in which students can practice living skills . In the present context, the education needs to reform education content to increase socially practical activities to teach students ethics and standard behavior. To achieve the target, schools and unions should work together to offer a healthy playground for students. 87 medical workers honored On the occasion of May Day, the health sector’s labor union yesterday held a meeting in Children Hospital No.2 in Ho Chi Minh City to honor 87 good examples of medical workers who have developed initiative to improve work. At the meeting, the sector’s Labor Union also organized cooking competition with the participant of 26 labor unions. The competition aims to provide nutritional meals and food safety for laborers. Additionally, cuisine festival of three regions in Vietnam including the North, the Central and the South; tug-of-war game and introducing information of the upcoming national Assembly sessions and People’s Council for the period of 2016 - 2021also launched at the meeting. On the same day, labor unions donated over VND36 million (US$ 1,571) into the general union’s fund and the fund for helping state employees who suffering work-related disease. The sector union also gave VND50 million to build dilapidated houses for poor members. HCMC destroys 80 pigs with banned chemicals In a press brief at state-run Vissan Co, Vietnam's leading foodstuff processor yesterday, inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced decision to fine director Nguyen Van Toan who sold pigs with banned chemical Salbutamol. At the meeting, inspectors also decided to destroy 80 pigs detected to have Salbutamol. The pigs was bought from the southern province of Dong Nai by director Nguyen Van Toan of Nguyen Tra Company. Before, as usual, on April 20, the vets from the city’s vet station paid visit to Vissan Company’s slaughter house in BInh Thanh District to take samples and have quick test and then they detected 80 pigs of Mr. Toa’s company to be positive from Salbutamol. Once checked again, inspectors detected that the content of Salbutamol in pigs is fivefold the allowable limit Consequently, a fine of VND50 million (US$ 2,242) was issued to Mr. Toan. Additionally, Toan must pay the cost of destruction which is around VND100 million (US$ 4,484). A representative from Vissan said that the company will cut the contract to provide pigs with Mr. Toan’s company. The representative also said the company check all pigs which provided by companies though these companies have certificate of VietGap to protect customers’ health.   Dengue cases to increase in rainy season Despite the Ministry of Health and related agencies’ media campaign against dengue fever has been launched, a majority of residents and authorities are still negligent over the disease, the Department of Health in Ho Chi Minh City, said. According to the city’s Preventive Medicine Department, the number of dengue fever infection cases soared by 88 percent compared to same period last year. In the first three months, 6,116 people were hospitalized including one death due to dengue fever, the city reported. In March only, around 250 cases of dengue fever were reported a week. Though Dr. Nguyen Tri Dung, head of the municipal Department of Health said it is the end of peak season of the disease, experts said that dengue fever cases will increase in rainy season.  It is worried because now it is dry season but it has seen an increase of dengue fever. Worse, people’s awareness of the disease is low and authorities are negligent in prevention task of the disease. New pediatric hospital built in Can Tho The Department of Health in the Mekong delta City of Can Tho yesterday opened a pediatric hospital. The VND861 billion (US$ 38,624,460) hospital, the most advanced of its kind in the region, has 500 beds. Director of Health Department Dr. Bui Thi Le Phi said that in past time, the number of kids in the Mekong delta rose drastically while facilities of the former pediatric hospital in Tran Hung Dao Street could not meet the increased demand. Subsequently, the provincial People’s Committee has approved the construction of a new pediatric hospital in Nguyen Van Cu Street in Ninh Kieu District. The 9 storey hospital has 7 specific rooms, 20 wards with modern medical equipment to serve treatment demand of residents in the region. Cervical cancer cases cut in half in last 30 years: experts The number of cervical cancer cases in Việt Nam has fallen by half in the last 30 years thanks to a nationwide network of health facilities providing gynaecology screening, according to Professor Nguyễn Chấn Hùng, chairman of Việt Nam Cancer Association. Hùng told Việt Nam News that gynaecological examinations and tests for the presence of precancerous or cancerous cell on the cervix were available at most health facilities in the country. In addition, people’s awareness of the need for regular examinations and tests also improved,  he said.   “Patients can get more timely treatment to prevent the development of cancer, which has resulted in a drop in cervical cancer,” he added. Vaccinations, which are given to women under a certain age, have also reduced the incidences of cancer, he added. According to International Agency for Research on Cancer’s Globocan 2012, a report on incidences, mortality and prevalence of cancers in 184 countries, showed that Việt Nam had a lower prevalence of cervical cancer than many other countries, including Cambodia, Myanmar and others in the region. “People should not be too anxious about this cancer because with early diagnosis and treatment, the rate of recovery is 80-90 per cent,” he said. However, it should not be disregarded, Hùng said. Whenever women have excessive vaginal bleeding, they should visit a doctor. According to a report from Globocan 2012, Việt Nam reported 5,146 new cervical cancer cases in 2012. Speaking at a conference about cervical and ovarian cancers held on Saturday in HCM City, Dr Vũ Văn Vũ, head of medical oncology ward No 1 at HCM City Oncology Hospital, said: “Cervical cancer still is a challenge for the country, and HCM City.” The cancer still is one of the leading causes of death among women¸ with more than 2,400 dying each year. In cases of late detection, the five-year survival rate is only 16 per cent. Late last year, the drug bevacizumab, which the Ministry of Health approved to be used in the country, began to be used with chemotherapy. It has helped increase the survival rate for patients in the last stage of cancer. In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration approved bevacizumab solution for intravenous infusion in combination with chemotherapy. At a conference held by the Việt Nam Cancer Association in co-operation with HCM City Oncology Hospital and HCM City representative office of Hoffmann-La Roche, Dr Mary McCormack, consultant Oncologist at London’s University College Hospital, said that doctors should note side effects and have careful patient selection before treatment. Adverse complications such as wound healing, hypertension and thrombosis can also be avoided by appropriate planning for treatment, she said. In Việt Nam, the drug and chemotherapry combination is used for treatment for patients in the last stage of cancer, including ovarian cancer. The Globocan 2012 showed that Việt Nam had 1,229 new cases with ovarian cancers in 2012. The prevalence of ovarian cancer was the lowest in the region. However, most cases of cancer are detected in the last stage because ovarian cancer often has similar symptoms to digestive diseases. Hùng said that the cancer could occur at any age, including children. He said women should have periodic health check-ups, including abdominal ultrasounds which are one of the ways to detect tumours in ovaries. Even if tumours are noncancerous, they should be watched by doctors frequently, he said. “Tumours can reoccur, and become worse,” he added. Work starts on key highway interchange HCMC Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Co. (CII) has broken ground for a major interchange in front of the Vietnam National University of HCMC to ease traffic congestion on National Highway 1A in Thu Duc District. The project includes expanding a section of National Highway 1A to eight lanes, building a 1.2-kilometer-long tunnel, two overpasses, and two pedestrian flyovers. The project worth VND164 billion (US$7.4 million) is implemented under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) form and scheduled to be opened to traffic at the end of 2017. It is an additional component of a major project to expand Hanoi Highway in HCMC. CII chairman Le Vu Hoang told the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday that when in place the project will help reduce congestion on the highway near Suoi Tien Park and the university. The project had been delayed for years due to a lack of capital. Then, it was divided into two parts, including parallel roads constructed by Urban Traffic Management No.2 under the HCMC Department of Transport, and expansion of the highway and construction of the tunnel, overpasses and pedestrian flyovers by CII. According to a master traffic infrastructure development plan until 2020 with a vision after 2020 approved by the Government, Hanoi Highway is a vital road in HCMC’s northeastern gateway as it connects the city with southeastern, central and northern provinces. Currently, CII is the investor of a VND5.4-trillion project to expand a 15.7-kilometer-long section of Hanoi Highway from the Saigon Bridge to Dong Nai Bridge under Hanoi Highway. It is vital to widen the highway to meet rising traffic needs and support the development of major projects along the road, including the Saigon High-Tech Park in District 9 and new residential areas. New solution to kid digestive issues presented A scientific symposium was held in HCMC on Sunday to present ROME IV, a new solution to help in diagnosis and treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) inat children and newborn babies. ROME IV will be applied in the country from next month, replacing previous scientific criteria largely built based on experience, experts said at the symposium titled “ROME IV – Updating new standards in the diagnosis of FGIDs at children.” It was co-organized by the Vietnam Pediatric Association and the Friso brand of FrieslandCampina Vietnam. Dr. Nguyen Gia Khanh, vice chairman of the Vietnam Pediatric Association, said FGIDs inat children neither cause severe effects on the development and operation of the body nor create dangerous complications. However, such disorders will deeply affect the child rearing process as parents have to spend much time and effort on checkups and treatment, as well as cause negative impacts on quality of their lives and daily learning activities. Scientists worldwide have set out FGID diagnosis criteria for both children and adults as well as solutions for treatment and care of affected children. The diagnosis standards have been developed constantly with ROME IV being with the most updated and applicable easily at hospitals and in the community. Professor Marc Benninga, a member of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, said that in 2006, ROME III launched criteria based on experience and agreements by experts in the medical field. In the past decade, experts were able to detect FGID signs at infants and children in different age groups and they decided to amend ROME III, leading to the launching of ROME IV with new criteria and updated knowledge for diagnosing FGIDs at newborn babies and children. Experts at the event also discussed reasons for FGIDs inat children, noticing the change in milk protein’s structure during the heating process. This will create milk clots, making it difficult for children to digest and leading to gastrointestinal disorders such as indigestion, abdominal pain and constipation. However, few parents in Vietnam have been aware of this problem. Friso at the symposium announced its LockNutri process that helps milk protein maintain its natural state and prevent it from clotting. Therefore, children will digest and absorb the protein easily. Children from two years old need sufficient protein supply to develop their skin, hair, muscle, nervous system and immune system. Adjustment to Quang Binh, Quang Nam urban infrastructure approved The Prime Minister has approved adjustments to a project on developing the urban environment and infrastructure, in response to climate change, in Dong Hoi city, in the central province of Quang Binh and Hoi An ancient town in central Quang Nam province. The Quang Binh provincial People’s Committee will replace Quang Binh urban environment and development company as the investor, while the management board of Chu Lai open economic zone will take the place of Quang Nam water supply and drainage company in operating the project. The project will be carried out from 2015-2022 at a cost of 126.07 million USD, 4 million USD of which is non-refundable aid provided by the Asian Development Bank. One million USD will go to the Quang Binh provincial People’s Committee and the remaining to Quang Nam. The Finance Ministry was assigned to appraise the localities’ solvency and report to the PM before the loan agreement takes effect. The Quang Binh and Quang Nam authorities were requested to ensure the project’s efficiency. Project to improve community ability launched The non-governmental organisation Habitat for Humanity Vietnam (HFH Vietnam) in collaboration with the Samsung C&T Corporation and Habitat for Humanity Korea have recently launched a project to improve community ability and natural disaster response. The programme, being implemented from March 2016 to February 2017 in Nga My commune in Phu Binh district of the northern province of Thai Nguyen, aims to help 120 disadvantaged local households improve their living conditions through clean water and community and disaster prevention works. It will also build new classrooms along with a clean water system for a local primary school, as well as provide information technology equipment for a secondary school. HFH Vietnam, a branch of Habitat for Humanity International, started operating in January 2001 in Da Nang city in the central coastal region. As of June 2015, HFH Vietnam has enabled more than 12,823 low-income Vietnamese families to improve their living conditions. In addition, the organisation has provided training in disaster preparedness, financial education, hygiene practices, and construction skills, among others, to more than 62,749 individuals. Congestion makes Hanoi buses unpopular choice Public buses services in Hanoi, once very popular, have been losing around 150,000 passengers every day this year as many people have become unhappy with traffic jams. A new report from Hanoi Transport Service Corporation said bus passengers in the first quarter dropped 14% from a year ago to 82 million. Buses were a common means of transport in Hanoi in the 2000s. But it has continued losing popularity, after reaching its peak in 2012 with 416 million travelers. The number last year was down 7.5% from 2014, according to the company’s figures. Regular surveys from the company found most of the passengers happy with its service, but complaints are also aplenty. Leaders from the company said the goal was to promote the use of public transport and restrict individual vehicles. But in Hanoi, the existence of bus services is now threatened by the rapid surge in cars and motorbikes. Officials said at a meeting last December that the crowded city has 18,000-20,000 new motorbikes and 6,000-8,000 new cars registered every month, not to mention vehicles brought in by migrants. The numbers are expected to rise further from 2018 when several taxes on vehicles are cut, possibly reaching one million cars and seven million motorbikes by 2020. Public buses in Vietnam now have to share the same lanes with other vehicles and constant traffic jams may make them a much less appealing choice than motorbikes. Major construction projects in 2015 also affected bus routes in the capital. Low fuel prices also make cheap public bus tickets no longer attractive compared to taxis or motorbike taxis (xe om), according to the transport company. Despite low passengers, Hanoi bus revenue still increased in recent years thanks to higher fares, which now cost less than half a dollar for a journey longer than 30 kilometers. Association aims to support 10,000 children in 2016 The Vietnam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights (VAPCR) aims to aid 10,000 children in difficult circumstances nationwide in 2016, President of the association Tran Thi Thanh Thanh said. The support will focus on scholarships, study tools, and building civil works, boarding classrooms and schools and charity houses. The association’s role in implementing and monitoring the enforcement of the Law on Children will be increased, Thanh said. The VAPCR will also enhance links with domestic and foreign social organisations and communication agencies in order to raise public awareness of the rights of children, child care responsibilities, as well as mobilise health care, education and protection services for children. The association plans to set up three more provincial-level chapters, while working with the Department of Child Protection and Care under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Child Rights Protection Network (CRnet) to organise a forum discussing the role of social organisations in supporting sexually-abused children. In recent years, the VAPCR has established two local-level chapters in the central province of Quang Nam and southern Tay Ninh province, and increased its budget to VND15.5 billion. It worked with CRnet to contribute to the revised draft Law on Children Caring and Protection. It also expanded a number of community-based models for assisting, caring and protecting children. Danang develops clubs combating violence against women A number of anti-domestic violence clubs have been established in the central city of Danang as part of a UN Women project. Aiming to mobilise the community’s participation in protecting women and girls from violence, the project ran in Hai Chau district’s Hoa Cuong Bac ward and Hoa Vang district’s Hoa Khuong, Hoa Phong communes between 2013 and 2015. It set up clubs grouping people dedicated to deterring domestic violence against women. All participating localities have maintained their clubs up to now and plan to establish more. In 2014, Hoa Phong commune launched its 30-member parent group against domestic violence to equip locals with skills to handle the issue. Recent local statistics showed that the number of reported domestic violence cases stood at two per year, a decrease from six cases in the past. Danang has thus far recorded no cases of women trafficking or abuse. Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women Chief Representative in Vietnam, expressed her hope that encouraging outcomes of the project will be maintained and these clubs will work to help eliminate domestic violence, especially against girls and women. Different resources needed to help HIV/AIDS children Mobilising the entire community at home and abroad in protecting and caring for children affected by HIV/AIDs is one of the goals set for 2014-2020, by a workshop in Hanoi. Addressing the April 23 event, Chairwoman of the Association for Protection of Child Rights (APCR) Tran Thi Thanh Thanh, said ideas have been outlined to realise the national plan of action for HIV/AIDS-affected children during the period. According to the official, her association aims to help children benefit from fundamental rights with a focus on disadvantaged children. The association has taken an active role in taking care of children affected by the disease through communication activities and resource mobilisation, she said. The association also organised training courses for journalists to help them improve their knowledge, skills and ethics when communicating with HIV-affected children. Vu Kim Hoa, deputy head of the Child Care and Protection Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said the ministry coordinated with the Ministries of Education and Training and Health and municipal and provincial People’s Committees to set up a board to carry out the national action plan. A range of related legal documents have been issued, she said, adding that joint efforts have been made to build an environment where HIV/AIDS-affected children suffer from no discrimination. Services to protect, care and provide treatment for the children have also been launched, Hoa said. However, the workshop heard, their endeavours have been hindered by an array of difficulties such as limited public awareness and capital. To improve the efficiency of the work, the APCR plans to organise training courses for its members, step up communication activities and integrate the national plan into other projects. According to Director of the Ministry of Health’s Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnam detects around 12,000 new HIV cases and 2,000-3,000 fatalities connected to the virus each year. As of June 2015, there were 227,114 people living with HIV in Vietnam, 71,115 of which had progressed to AIDS. Health sector targets to curb malaria The health sector aims to keep the rate of people with malaria below 0.15 per thousand and the rate of mortality related to the disease below 0.02 per thousand in the 2016-2020 period, according to the Department of Preventive Medicine. The sector will also promote communication work in preventing and then eliminating malaria from localities across the nation in the period. A comprehensive preventive network will be deployed at all levels while monitoring and supervising work will be enhanced to curb mosquitoes transferring malaria and dengue. The sector will actively mobilise different resources and involve communities in preventing and controlling malaria. According to Tran Thanh Duong, Director of the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (NIMPE) said the number of malaria cases has plunged since 1991. Several localities now record no case of infection. The number of malaria patients has reduced remarkably by 57.8%, from from 45,588 in 2011 to 19,252 in 2015. The rate of mortality due to the disease also decreased 78.6%, from 14 cases in 2011 to three in 2015. Vietnam targets to completely eradicate the disease by 2030. Quang Ngai: Over 80 mln USD spent on flood, intrusion prevention The central province of Quang Ngai will invest over 1.8 trillion VND (80.7 million USD) in preventing floods, saltwater intrusion and erosion along Tra Khuc River, the largest running through Quang Ngai city. The project also aims to upgrade riverside public spaces and expand urban areas in the province. The money will be raised from multiple sources including the state budget, government bonds, Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans and sponsors. Of which, about 912 billion VND will be invested in flood prevention while approximately 946 billion VND is for curbing saltwater intrusion and erosion. The works involve the expansion of the levee from Da Nang – Quang Ngai Highway to Tam Thuong Wharf, the construction of a 7 kilometre embankment from Tam Thuong Wharf to Nghia Dung commune and 27 dykes, and the dredging of seven river sections. Lam Dong allocates over 1 million USD for drought relief The People’s Committee of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong will spend 22.5 billion VND (1.01 million USD) on alleviating the aftermath of a prolonged drought. The funding is sourced from the provincial budget, the Finance Ministry, the Bank for Investment and Development and the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Hanoi chapter. It will be distributed among 12 local districts and cities, with priority given to severely hit localities, like Di Linh, Cat Tien and Lam Ha district. Local authorities are told to use the money to dredge irrigation ditches, canals and reservoirs to ensure water supply as the hot weather continues. Digging small ponds and lakes are also important tasks. The Lam Dong centre for irrigation investment and management will also receive part of the fund to cover the cost of fuel and electricity in operating pumping stations. Long An library brings books to border area Mobile libraries, titled “The Knowledge Ride”, have brought the joy of reading closer to pupils in Moc Hoa district’s Binh Hoa Tay border area, in the Mekong Delta province of Long An. One mobile library is capable of carrying nearly 3,000 titles to be explored by more than 200 pupils at the Binh Hoa Tay primary and secondary schools. The Long An Library will work with local schools to coordinate more stops of these special libraries where books are on their journey looking for readers. It also plans to build bookcases at wet markets to serve shopkeepers. The books inside these cases will be replaced on a weekly basis. The library is now running book fairs at the provincial culture centre and in some localities in response to the third Vietnam Book Day. April 21 was designated as Vietnam Book Day under Decision 284/QD-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on February 24, 2014. The annual event aims to encourage and develop reading in society, while raising public awareness of the significance of books not only as a source of knowledge, but also a way to develop one’s thought and personality. Nominees for Ho Chi Minh, State Awards announced The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced the list of nominations for the Ho Chi Minh Awards and the State Awards for Literature and Arts. In the music category, the nominees for the Ho Chi Minh awards are musicians Chu Minh, Nguyen Trong Bang, Doan Nho, Pham Minh Tuan, Vu Van Ky, along with late musicians Hoang Ha, Thuan Yen and Dinh Ngoc Lien. In addition, 29 others were also nominated for the State Awards. Film maker Vu Thi Le My, sculptor Ta Quang Bao and late photographer Luong Nghia Dung were listed nominations for Ho Chi Minh Awards in the cinema, fine arts and photography categories. The six nominees for dance are People’s Artists Ung Duy Thinh, Le Ngoc Canh, Chu Thuy Quynh, Vu Viet Cuong and Dang Hung, and artist Nguyen Thi Hien. Poets Xuan Quynh and Thu Bon, along with writers Nguyen Xuan Thieu and Huu Mai were nominated for Ho Chi Minh Awards in the field of literature; meanwhile cheo (traditional opera) writer Tran Dinh Ngon, theatre researcher Mich Quang and cheo researcher Tran Bang are nominations in theatre category. In folk arts, late cultural researcher Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao was the only nominee for Ho Chi Minh Award. In addition, there are 29 musical, 24 cinematographic, three architectural, five dancing, eight fine arts, eight photographic, 11 theatre, 29 literature and 16 folk arts nominations for the State Awards. The prestigious Ho Chi Minh and State Awards aim to honour oustanding individuals as well as very high valuable scientific researching projects and literature and arts works with great influence on the society. Since 1996, 101 literature and arts projects and individuals have been presented Ho Chi Minh Awards and 128 those have received State Awards. Traditional Bắc Hà–Lào Cai horce racing starts in June The 10th traditional horse race in Bắc Hà District in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai will be held June 4-5 along with activities promoting the region’s tourism. This year, the race will feature individual and group competitions over a 1.9 kilometre distance with jockeys from the Lào Cai and Xín Mần districts of Hà Giang Province. There will also be sightseeing activities for visitors to the Tam Giác Mạch (Buckwheat) Flower region, and the tourism villages of Tả Van Chư, Lầu Thí Ngài and Thải Giàng Phố, among others. Canadian skateboarder criticized for skitching on Hanoi’s busy roads A Canadian skateboarder has upset many people after he filmed himself performing a stunt known as skitching, in which he was seen hanging off at the back of vehicles around many busy streets in Hanoi. In the three-minute video, the man named Joel moved at high speed by holding onto motorbikes and navigating through the heavy traffic, without a crash helmet. He signaled and asked for permission from the motorbike riders beforehand. He filmed the stunt with a selfie stick. Thanh Nien has acquired his permission to share the video. Joel said he came to Vietnam two months ago. He said he loves skateboarding especially on places with challenging obstacles. The Canadian man did not comment on the fact that his act was both illegal and extremely dangerous. Responding to the video, many people said the man appeared to be a very good skateboarder, but criticized him for the reckless stunt that could have put many drivers and himself at risk. Skating, skateboarding and other sports are prohibited on Vietnam roads. Violators can be fined for up to VND400,000 (US$18). Cambodia looks to beef up cultural ties with Vietnam Cambodia hopes to beef up cultural cooperation with Vietnam for the benefit of both peoples, according to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An. She made the statement at a recent meeting with a delegation from the National Centre for Research, Conservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Cultures led by Director Hoang Chuong in Phnom Penh. Cultural exchange plays a vital role in maintaining diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Deputy PM said. It should strengthen the friendship between their people and promote their cultures, particularly those of ethnic minority groups, she added. The Cambodian leader highlighted the long-standing Vietnam-Cambodia ties, noting that the two nations need to further develop their relations and comprehensive partnership with an emphasis on localities that share borders. Vietnam and Cambodia have worked to increase cultural exchange activities and personnel training in the field over the past number of years. Each country has joined the other’s cultural festivals, while Vietnamese culture weeks have been held in Cambodia and vice versa, to bring the two cultures closer. Delayed school project means more student hardship The Que Phong Boarding School project which received a gigantic VND 41,215 billion (USD1.85 million) in investment has remained abandoned for a year now, leaving hundreds of students temporarily to live and study at different places. The school was one of the key projects built by the Que Phong District People's Committee in Nghe An Province to welcome the District Party Congress last year. However, after the first stage was completed in May last year after USD1.34 million of work was done, the construction of the project has remained in hiatus until now. At the large construction site of the school, a two-storey building with 12 class-rooms, canteen and a building for teachers' meetings have all been completed but left idle to await construction of other buildings such as halls of residence, yard and electricity. Meanwhile, more than 200 students of the school have been sent to live and study at different places at difficult conditions. Vi Thi Duyen, director of Que Phong District's Management Board for Infras Structure Projects told Dan Tri on April 27 that they couldn't continue the construction work at the school project due to running out of money after the first stage. "We've sent a letter to the district and provincial authorities to ask for funding and are still waiting," Duyen said. "We hope to be able to carry on with the construction soon so that students and teachers can settle into their new school." Speaking with Dan Tri, chairman of Que Phong District, Le Van Giap, confirmed that they would soon find the money to continue the school project. Deputy head of the district's Department of Education and Training, Ho Mau Su, said that they are having to hire class-rooms for 225 pupils while waiting for the new school to be built. "We were promised by local authorities that the school would be completed and put into operation in the 2016-2017 school year which begins in September," he said. Measures announced to reduce flooding in Hà Nội The Hà Nội Sewage and Drainage Company has announced three scenarios to reduce heavy flooding in the city during the upcoming rainy season. According to the first plan which was released at a meeting on Wednesday, if moderate rain up to 50mm per two hours occurs, the company will mobilise workers to the low-lying areas. The employees have already been cleaning the drainage system often to avoid flooding. In the second scenario, when there is heavy rain of 50mm to 100mm per two hours, the company will appoint workers to supervise and control the flooding by using pumps to force the flow of water and collect obstacles that hinder its path. In addition, the Yên Sở pumping station will be operated at its highest capacity. When the rain exceeds 100mm per two hours, along with the earlier measures in the second plan, all the workers will be mobilised to deal with the flooding. The company will work with relevant agencies to temporarily evacuate residents from flooded areas if necessary. The company’s director, Vũ Tiến Hùng, said the construction of 17 traffic projects and waste gathering places near the mouth of the drainage systems had affected the water flow, leading to flooding at 16 sites in the city. Vice-director of Hà Nội Department of Construction Võ Nguyên Phong said the construction of new sewage systems to collect domestic wastewater and repairs on existing sewers and drains were underway. However, the city had only invested in a drainage system along the Tô Lịch River, so some sites would still experience flooding even after the project was finished in June. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri