Social News 6/6 Four-ton Buddha Statute on display in Danang   One of the greatest Wonders of the Buddhist World, the four-ton Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, is now on display through June 19 at the Nam Hai Pagoda in the central city of Danang. “The Jade Buddha, dedicated to promoting universal peace and compassion, is on a tour that has taken it around the globe,” said a venerable monk from the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace organization. This exhibition is for everyone, he said, irrespective of their religion, to take a moment to reflect upon peace— peace for the world, peace relationships, peace within friends and family, peace at work, peace in mind, and most importantly peace in our heart. This is the fourth pagoda in Vietnam that the heart-warming exhibition has gone on display following exhibits at Bai Dinh, Hong Phuc and Ba Vang pagodas, he said. This is the last stop before the statue will settle in permanently in Australia. Nearly 16 kilos of drugs seized at Vietnam’s southern border gate Customs officers in the southern province of Tay Ninh on June 4 found 15.8 kilograms of synthetic drugs in a container from China. The drugs were hidden inside printer ink cartridges and cameras in five carton boxes in the container, which was destined for Cambodia, according to the customs officers at Tay Ninh's Xa Mat International Border Gate. The officers said Sunday they have transferred the case to the provincial police for further investigation. Vietnam has some of the world’s toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death. Hanoi urged to uphold its vanguard role Hanoi needs to be a pioneer in promoting start-ups and creativity of Vietnam, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a June 4 conference on investment and development cooperation. In his speech, PM Phuc urged Hanoi to take the lead and become a center for start-ups and creativity of the nation, adding local authorities need to introduce initiatives to support star-up models, promote the IT application, and keep its commitments with enterprises. The cabinet leader also suggested the capital city develop inter-regional connectivity and expand development spaces. On the occasion, Hanoi calls for investment in 52 projects with total capital of more than VND338 trillion. At the conference, municipal leaders pledged to create favorable conditions and an open investment environment, and speed up administrative reform. In his address, Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai reiterated the city’s resolve to reach rapid and sustainable economic growth and pay greater attention to ensuring social security, improving living conditions for the people, and protecting the environment. The city will create the most favourable conditions for start-up enterprises, Hai said, adding that specific measures will be taken to improve the quality and competitiveness of the economy. The major focus will be on on building and upgrading infrastructure facilities, especially those for transport, water drainage and supply, electricity and telecommunications, he said. One death from Meningococcal meningitis reported in HCMC The Ho Chi Minh City Preventive Medicine Department yesterday announced the first death caused by Meningococcal meningitis. The first patient is a five-month-old baby in district 11. The bay was taken to the Tropical Diseases Hospital when she was experiencing high fever, vomiting, and bleeding in the skin. Test result confirmed the patient was infected with the virus to cause Meningococcal meningitis. The hospital said that the baby was unconscious when being rushed to the hospital. The baby was diagnosed to have septicemia  and then died soon. The municipal Department of Preventive Medicine took steps for medical investigation. Dr. Nguyen Vu Minh Thu from the department said that right after being informed the fatality due to Meningococcal meningitis, medical staffs from the Department and the district medical center quickly came to the baby’s house and gave medicines to those who took care of the baby or who directly contact the baby and disinfect the baby’s house as well as asked people to increase personal hygiene and to go to medical facility for vaccination. Dr. Nguyen Huy Luan from the Medicine University Hospital in HCMC said that Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The bacterium usually attacks toddlers under two years old. Infected babies will have high fever, headache, vomiting and other symptoms such as stiff neck. Health authority must curb the outbreak by disinfect the neighborhood, and give medicine to those directly contacting ill babies or else the disease will spread. Vaccination is needed to preven the virus. Parents should take their children to medical facilities for immunization and should not take them to crowded place to avoid getting the bacterium. Additionally parents should wash a baby’s hand with soap and even their hand before touching the baby. 40 domestic travel agencies help boosting Quang Binh's tourism industry Director of Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism in the central province of Quang Binh Ho An Phong said 40 leading travel agencies in Vietnam visited the province to help boosting local tourism industry after the mass of fish death occured in the province in April. Domestic travel agencies said they will introduce local tours to domestic and international tourists and call for their clients to travel to the province. The department said it is launching attractive programs to promote local tourism industry through its slogan "Safe, friendly, attractive tourist destination". With the aim to attract more tourists, local authority is also offering 30 percent discount program to discovery tours to Phong Nha, Tien Son, Thien Duong caves from now till December 2016. In addition, the department is planning to launch the tourism investment promotion activities fowards the domestic markets including Hanoi and the northern provinces, HCMC, the southern provinces... Air conditioner and fans sales soar in Hanoi heat wave These days, the sale of air conditioners and fans in Hanoi has sharply increased as the city swelters under 39 degrees heats. New ‘air-conditioning’ fans that can help temperatures fall by 15 degrees Celsius are proving popular. These fans cost from VND3-6 million (USD140-285) each. A representative from Nguyen Kim electronic store on Trang Thi District, Hanoi, said that air-conditioning fans were among the store's the best sellers, along with air-conditioners. According to Pico, one of the biggest electronic centres in Hanoi, the purchase of air conditioners, especially 9,000-12,000 BTU unites, and fans this summer were up 30% on last year. The most popular brands are Daikin, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi. Electronic stores in many big streets in Hanoi, including Nguyen Luong Bang and Tay Son, have also seen the drastic rise in orders. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan, owner of an electronics shop in Nguyen Luong Bang Street, said that "We have sold out of VND6-8 million air conditioners, so people need to put a deposit down before we order. Prices for air-con units normally rise by VND1 million during the summer." The prices of air conditioners this summer are roughly VND700,000-2 million higher than those of the last year. Hanoi is forecast to continue seeing the blazing hot weather this summer when temperatures may top 40 degrees on the streets. Over 140 press works selected for final round of National Press Awards The Jury Council of the tenth National Press Awards on June 3 announced the list of the top 143 press works selected for the final round of the tenth National Press Awards. Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists' Association, Chairman of the Jury Council and Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan newspaper Thuan Huu said that the tenth National Press Awards continued to receive warm response from press agencies, reporters and journalists with 1,660 works (an increase of 200 works over the previous year) from press agencies and individuals across the country. The 143 works in 11 categories were selected from 1,660 entries which truly reflect the socio-economic and political situations of the nation. Many works have created positive impacts on society and received positive responses from the authorities. Huu noted that this year saw the highest number of Journalists' Associations of provinces and cities attending the competition with 61 out of 63 Journalists' Associations of provinces in attendance. He said that press works featured many major political events of the country in 2015 including the preparations for the 12th National Party Congress, the implementation of the Resolution 4 on Party building, the movement on studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's moral example, and Vietnam's sovereignty over seas and islands, among others. In addition, entries also reflected other socio-economic issues of the nation such as anti-corruption, poverty reduction, agricultural development, Vietnam's joining in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the ASEAN Community and others. The jury will continue to work on June 3 and 4 to choose best press works from the 143 works to be honoured on the occasion of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press Day (June 21). HCMC, South Australia to cooperate in education, agriculture HCMC and South Australia will prioritize cooperation in education and high-tech agriculture in the coming time, chairman of the city Nguyen Thanh Phong said at a meeting on June 2 with Le Van Hieu, governor of South Australia. Phong said Australia is among the top ten trading partners of Vietnam while Vietnam is among the top 20 trading partners of Australia in sectors like processing technology, telecommunication and banking. Ties between the city and Australia have grown strongly, with the city’s trade with Australia reaching nearly US$600 million last year. Australia has got involved in 150 projects worth US$187 million in HCMC, ranking 18th among the countries and territories investing in the city. A business conference with 30 South Australia companies in the educational, agricultural, tourism and health sectors will take place on June 3, creating a chance for both sides to forge long-term cooperative relations. The city is calling for investments in education and high-tech agriculture. For education, the city wants to improve the quality of human resources and expects people in the city to get study scholarships in South Australia. The Biotechnology Center of HCMC and the HCMC Agricultural High-Tech Park are where South Australia companies can come to explore cooperation and investment opportunities in the high-tech agriculture sector, Phong said. One people dead in fire at Hai Phong TV station A fire broke out at the headquarters of the Hai Phong Radio-Television Station in the afternoon of June 4, claiming the life of an employee. Initial information show that an explosion occurred at about 2 p.m. of June 4, and black smoke was seen at the ninth floor of the 15-story building of the radio-TV station, which is based at No. 2 on Nguyen Binh street of Le Chan district, the northern city of Hai Phong. All the staff in the building were immediately evacuated and fire-fighters were sent to the scene. The fire was put out at about 4:30 p.m. Do Manh Hung, who was born in 1972 and head of the station’s documentation and film exploitation division, was hospitalised but passed away later. The city’s fire police department said he died of suffocation, adding that the fire was triggered by a short circuit. The headquarters of the Hai Phong Radio – Television Station was put into operation in mid-2015. The ninth floor where the black smoke came out was the workplace of the station’s department for cultural and social affairs. President Ho Chi Minh’s vision honoured in HCM City President Ho Chi Minh’s vision and ideology were honoured at a conference in HCM City, on June 3, on the 105th anniversary of his departure abroad to seek ways to save the country (June 5) and the 40th anniversary of the day Saigon-Gia Dinh was renamed HCM City. More than 200 reports were sent to the conference which covered such topics as President Ho Chi Minh’s visions on Vietnam’s liberation and independence, society models associated with modern establishments, international relationships and settlement of international issues. Participants also discussed the development of the city over the past four decades. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Director of the National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, said this was a chance to make clear the values of the event the President left the country to seek ways for national liberation 105 years ago, and his visions toward fundamental matters of Vietnam’s revolution, as well as how the values were promoted in the country’s revolution in general and the city’s development. Tat Thanh Cang, Deputy Standing Secretary of the HCM City Party’s Committee, highlighted the city has been always studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example to develop the city deserving the President’s vision. Participants said in the comprehensive reform of the country, based on suggestions, directions, and forecasts from President Ho Chi Minh’s vision, the whole Party and people are determined to creatively applied and develop the heritage in nation building and safeguarding. HCM City will always treasure and develop those values to build a more civilised, beautiful and prosperous city deserving to carry the name of President Ho Chi Minh, they affirmed. Hanoi kicks off activities to mark World Environment Day The Hanoi People’s Committee hosted a ceremony on June 5 to kick start a series of activities in response to the 2016 World Environment Day which is celebrated in Vietnam under theme “Nature’s Call and Our Actions”. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day (June 5) aims to inspire people around the world to take action to prevent the strain on Earth’s natural systems from reaching breaking point. This year’s theme is the fight against illegal wildlife trade, which erodes the precious biodiversity and threatens the survival of awe-inspiring species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as other creatures that are less celebrated. Speaking at the ceremony, Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung urged local authorities at all levels, businesses and residents to join hands to protect the environment. He also announced to the public the city’s website for environment protection at “thudoxanhsachdep.gov.vn”. After the event, the city’s leaders, delegates and youths together planted trees and cleaned public places around Hoan Kiem Lake. On the same day, 30 districts and towns of Hanoi city kicked off their activities in response to World Environment Day. Their residents planted trees, collected waste, cleaned sewage and removed illegal wall advertisements. A children’s drawing competition for environment protection was also co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and its Hanoi chapter and Nhi Dong (Children) Newspaper to raise children’s awareness of environmental issues. About 100 youths from the municipal Department of Environment and Natural Resources, youth unions of the city’s agencies and volunteer clubs participated in a cycling parade around main streets in Hanoi to call for a joint effort of local community to protect the environment. Earlier on June 4, Hanoi planted 1,000 ban (Bauhinia Variegata) trees along Vo Nguyen Giap street as part of the plan to grow 1 million trees for 2016-2020 in the city. Ban flower is typical to the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, often in blossom in spring. Italy’s Republic Day marked in HCM City The Italian Embassy in Vietnam hosted a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on June 3 to mark the 70th anniversary of Italy’s Republic Day. Speaking at the event, Italian Ambassador Cecilia Piccioni highlighted the fruitful friendship between Vietnam and Italy in recent times, saying that bilateral ties have been strengthened and positively developed in all fields. The Vietnamese market is more attractive to Italian enterprises and Vietnam’s participation in free trade agreements (FTA), especially the Vietnam-European Union FTA, open more cooperation opportunities for the two countries’ businesses. Enhanced links between Italy with HCM City and other southern localities plays a crucial role in the Vietnam-Italy Partnership, said Italian Consul General in HCM City Carlotta Colli. She revealed that her country is going to launch two vocational training centres in HCM City in the fields of textiles and footwear, which will use Italian technologies. A group of Italian high-school students will visit Vietnam in the framework of a youth exchange programme between the two nations. Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen said HCM City signed agreements on establishing friendship with Italy’s Torino city. Tuyen thanked the Italian Government for its support for the municipal authorities to set up an educational information centre at the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, expressing his hope that the bond between HCM City and Italy will be stepped up in the coming time. Party chief urges Tay Ninh to tap potential The southern province of Tay Ninh needs proper strategies to fully tap its potential and advantages for socio-economic development, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said during his working trip to the locality on June 4-5. With 240km of border line and the two international border gates of Moc Bai and Xa Mat, Tay Ninh holds a significant strategic position in the national economy, defence-security and diplomacy, he stressed. The favourable topography and transport network enable Tay Ninh to develop agriculture, industry, services, tourism and external economy, he said, urging the province to pay more attention to developing agriculture, industry, service and tourism, and implement effectively social welfare policies. As a gateway in the south-western part of the country, Tay Ninh should promote external affairs and maintain security in the border areas as well as build border lines of peace, friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries, take good care of overseas Vietnamese returning from Cambodia, and create optimal conditions for Vietnamese firms to do business in Cambodia. The province needs to raise the efficiency of mass mobilisation work along with ethnic group and religious ones, he said. Equally important is developing high-quality human resources, the Party chief said, highlighting this as one of the three strategic breakthroughs in addition to improving institution and mordernising socio-economic infrastructure. He hailed Tay Ninh for realising the Resolution adopted at the 11th Central Committee’s fourth plenum on Party-building, which created positive changes in the locality. He also agreed on local proposals to create stronger regional connectivity, improve transport infrastructure, and facilitate business operation. Tay Ninh recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 11.1 percent in the first five months of 2016 and collected over 2.8 trillion VND (126 million USD) to the State budget, a year-on-year rise of 10.9 percent. Sixteen communes became new-style rural areas, accounting for 20 percent of the total communes in the province. The per capita average income is estimated at 2,600 USD. The ratio of impoverished households was reduced to 4.32 percent in comparison to the country’s average level – 6.75 percent.- 2016 Internation Circus Festival wraps up in Hue The 2016 International Circus Festival was wrapped up in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on June 4. The week-long festival granted prizes for 13 most outstanding performances while awards were also presented to the performance of audience choice, the best director and the best coach. Vietnamese teams pocketed nine out of 13 medals, including three gold and six silver, while Laos grabbed two, one gold and one silver. The festival is co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Performing Arts and the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The event, the fifth of its kind, featured 11 art troupes from Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Ukraine and Vietnam. Their performances included magic shows, juggling, sport and swinging acts, roller skating, acrobatics and acts by clowns. Action month for environment protection launched The national action month for environmental protection kicked off at a ceremony in Lao Cai city on June 4 jointly held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Lao Cai provincial People's Committee. The ceremony was held in response to World Environment Day on June 6 which aims to inspire people around the world to take action to prevent the strain on Earth’s natural systems from reaching breaking point. This year's theme "Nature’s Call and Our Actions" is the fight against illegal wildlife trade, which erodes the precious biodiversity and threatens the survival of awe-inspiring species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as other creatures that are less celebrated. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung emphasised that the Party, State and Government have always paid special attention to environmental protection, conservation of biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change, and considered it a key, strategic task. He asked ministries, sectors and localities to strengthen the capacity of State management on environmental protection, enhance inspection on issues related to the environment, as well as promote the role of political, social organisations and local communities in monitoring the implementation of regulations on the environment. Vietnam has responded to World Environment Day as an annual activity since 1982, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, adding that this year, the ministry holds a series of responding activities that encourage the involvement of the community to join hands in addressing urgent environmental issues in localities. As part of the national action month for environmental protection, Lao Cai province planted trees and released wild animals to the forest at the Hoang Lien National Park in Sa Pa district on June 5. In response to World Environment Day, an additional 3,000 pine trees were planted in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands of Lam Dong. Apart from activities such as meeting and beach cleaning, the People's Committee of central Ninh Thuan province released 260,000 aquatic breeders to the sea. Pharmacy charged with smuggling drugs, cosmetics The HCM City People’s Committee on Thursday (June 2, 2016) sanctioned several Minh Châu drugstores for selling smuggled cosmetics, dietary supplements and modern medicine, including antibiotics and prescribed drugs, in large quantities. Last month, the city’s Market Watch Department began inspections of Minh Châu’s drugstore chains on Hai Bà Trưng Street in District 1, after noticing suspicious sales practices carried out by the drugstores. Minh Châu Drugstore on 402A Hai Bà Trưng Street, owned by Đoàn Thị Nhật Thảo, had 11,182 products, including cosmetics, dietary supplements, and drugs without clear origins, on sale. Similarly, 2,646 products were seized at another Minh Châu drugstore owned by Lâm Đạo Hoàng Nam. At a drugstore owned by Trương Uyên Phương on 380 Hai Bà Trưng Street, authorities confiscated 774 units of smuggled goods. The pharmacy’s license for drug practice and business was withdrawn in the past for not failure to monitor drug sales and lack of complete legal documents. Phan Hoàn Kiếm, chief of the city’s Market Watch Department, said that drugstores under the Minh Châu Pharmacy chain would be fined hundreds of millions of đồng. Confiscated drugs, dietary supplements and cosmetics would be sent to relevant agencies for further inspection. Trần Vĩnh Tiến, vice chairman of the city’s People’s Committee on Wednesday (June 1), issued an administrative sanction of VNĐ94 million (US$4,194) against a Minh Châu drugstore on 431 Hai Bà Trưng Street in District 3, local newspapers reported. Over 40,000 youths participate in Hoa Phuong do campaign More than 40,000 young people gathered at Ho Chi Minh City’s Youth Cultural House on June 4 to attend a ceremony commencing a voluntary campaign titled, Hoa Phuong do (red flamboyant). Head of the HCMC Party Committee's Commission for Mass Mobilization Nguyen Thi Le, and Nguyen Manh Cuong, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh city Communist Youth Union attended the opening ceremony. The city youths will participate in a wide range of activities , such as organizing summer activities for children, teaching children to swim, providing summer learning programs to help children improve their academic,  preventing violence in school, visiting and offering gifts to families under State preferential treatment policies and more. The Hoa Phuong Do” campaign is a useful voluntary summer activity that gives young people a chance to join in voluntary work, contributing the community development and ultimately growing into helpful citizens. The 11th Hoa Phuong do campaign will take place in June and August Vietnamese cultural days take place in Russia Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation hosted the Vietnamese Cultural Days in Moscow and Volgograd, Russia on June 4- 12, within the framework of  Vietnam- Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016 and two countries’ culture cooperative program in the period of 2016- 2018. Many attractive activities from Vietnamese art delegation will be performed during nine day event such as music, art and dancing programs; silk painting exhibition, seminars and talks on advertizing  and promoting two countries’ culture, tourism. Vietnamese art delegation includes artists from the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre and Vietnam National Academy of Music. On the occasion, the visitors will have a chance to experience famous art of Vietnamese silk panting with 35 art works by painters of Vietnam University of Fine Arts. Photo exhibitions opened in HCMC The Ho Chi Minh City's Festival Organization Board opened a photo exhibition under title of “Ho Chi Minh City- Heroic city” at Nguyen Hue Walking Street yesterday morning, marking the 105th anniversary of Uncle Ho's departure abroad to seek ways to save the country (June 5th, 1911- 2016) and the 126th anniversary of his birthday (May 19th, 1890- 2016). The exhibition (photo) showcased more than 220 photos with two themes of “Late President Ho Chi Minh with a journey of the era” and “The city was named President Ho Chi Minh- Heroic city”. They highlight the revolutionary activities of President Ho Chi Minh in abroad and his returning the country to win national independence and opening up a new era in Vietnamese history but also praise the nation's heroic tradition and following teachings of Uncle Ho, the Party, government and people for the city protection, building and development in the fields of economy, culture, society, foreign affairs, political security. At that time, another photo exhibition of “Ho Chi Minh City- Development and Irrigation” also has taken place on Dong Khoi Street in district 1. The exhibition introduces the city’s renovation and development via major constructions, modern urban stations and environmental landscapes. 365 music group performs in Japan At the invitation of the Japanese Embassy to Vietnam, the 365 music group has toured to Japan. This is part of the cultural exchange programs between Vietnam and Japan under the Asian Music Festival including the participant of 4 countries Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Representatives from Vietnam to take part in this event include the 365 music group and Thuy Design House. The Asian music festival took place in Hanamatsu city and attracted over 15,000 participants. Earlier, to popularize the 365 music group’s liveshow celebrating its fifth founding anniversary which to be held in July 30, the 365 music group had have many performances in Binh Duong province. Martyrs’ remains reburied in HCM City Ho Chi Minh City held a service at the martyrs’ cemetery of Cu Chi district on June 5 to rebury 14 sets of remains of soldiers who died in the southeastern region during the war against the US. The remains were collected in the precincts of the logistics board of Regiment 2, which is under Division 9 of Army Corps 4, in Phuoc Vinh An commune of Cu Chi district. The memorial and reburial service expressed gratitude to the martyrs and educated the young on patriotism. Regiment 2 was one of the first regular military units in the southeastern region’s battlefield. It has been bestowed with the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” twice. More than 6,000 officers and soldiers of the regiment died during the war, and many of the martyrs have not been found. Lao coach blast possibly triggered by firework: Consulate General The coach blast that killed eight people and injured three in Laos on June 2 might have been triggered by fireworks stored on the coach, according to the Vietnam’s Consulate General in Laos’ South-Central region. The reason has been concluded by Lao and Vietnamese authorities as the initial cause of the blast, said Tran Cong Thinh, Vietnamese Consul General. According to the source of information from the consulate general, four Vietnamese nationals were detained, including driver Nguyen Duc Tu, two driver assistants and one passenger, who is supposed to be released soon. On June 2, the coach carrying the Lao number plate UN 3897 of Nghe An-based Khanh Don coaches was carrying 14 people, 12 of them being passengers, was heading for Vietnam. When it reached Nongbua hamlet in the Langkhang economic zone in the province of Khammunane, eight kilometres from Cha Lo border gate (Vietnam’s Quang Binh province), the coach suddenly exploded and was engulfed in flames, immediately killing eight people and injuring three. All eight dead victims were identified and their corpses were brought home. The three injured are being treated in Vietnam. An investigation is being carried out by local authorities to confirm the cause of the explosion. Ho Chi Minh City autistic children join friendly festival Nearly 300 autistic children in Ho Chi Minh City joined a friendly festival, the first of its kind, on June 3. They competed in swimming, racing, tug of war, joined in wax modeling and sand painting, and had a chance to exchange with junior singers and magicians. The event was co-hosted by the Vietnam Autism Network and the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ Centre for Rehabilitation and Support for Disabled Children. According to the World Health Organisation, for every 160 people in the world, one person has autism. The number of children with autism in Vietnam is increasing at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that there are 160,000 people with autism living in the country. The early detection of autism is urgent and crucial to provide children with effective intervention opportunities, helping them integrate into society. Exhibition chronicles President Ho’s national salvation trip An exhibition featuring President Ho Chi Minh’s journey to national salvation opened in Hanoi on June 3, in celebration of the 105th anniversary of his departure abroad to seek ways to save the country (June 5) and the 126th anniversary of his birth (May 19). Nearly 200 photos and materials on display will give an insight into the hardship endured by the late President and his contributions to national development. Known in those days as Nguyen Tat Thanh, Uncle Ho made the decision to go abroad in 1911 and travelled to discover the pathway to freedom, to be awakened to Marxism-Leninism and become a communist devoted to the entire Vietnamese people. The first great turning point was Uncle Ho’s departure in the summer of 1911, when he was 21 years old. On June 5, 1911, he left the nation on the ship, Admiral Latouche Treville using the name Van Ba and began to earn his living by working at various jobs, while self-educating and exploring other peoples realities. He gradually took part in the struggles of workers and people in places he visited. June 5, 1911 was an especially significant milestone, not only in the life of a person, but also the history of a nation. At that time, Nguyen Tat Thanh himself neither understood that he was shouldering a great national historical task, nor knew that on that day an extremely sacred mission had been assigned to him. With strong will, intelligence and talent, he led the Vietnamese revolutionary movement to follow the orbit of a proletarian revolution. He set up the Communist Party of Vietnam and prepared the necessary conditions to bring national liberation to final victory. Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese people successfully conducted the August Revolution in 1945, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and opening up a new era in Vietnamese history – the era of national independence and socialism. The event will last throughout June. Doctors save pneumonia patient with ECMO National Hospital of Tropical Diseases doctors used ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) technology to treat a serious case of pneumonia successfully in Hà Nội. The 44-year-old female patient left hospital yesterday morning, after 15 days of treatment in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), said Nguyễn Văn Kính, Director of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases. “A patient living in Hà Nội was hospitalized on May 18 during a severe emergency: high-fever of 40 degrees Celsius, chest pains, bad cough, X-ray film showing injury to the lungs, breathing by machine,” Dr Vũ Đình Phú, ICU chairman, said. ICU doctors decided to treat her using ECMO technology the next day, after discussion with hospital professors. After eight days of treatment the patient could breath by herself, without a breathing machine, Dr Phú said. ECMO was a highly-effective resuscitation measure and shortened treatment time in her case.   ECMO technology originated in America and has been applied widely in Britain and Taiwan. It is not used much in Việt Nam because it is very expensive at VNĐ130 million (US$5,700) per case, according to Dr Vũ Đình Phú. The hospital is the highest-ranking treatment center in the country. It has been very successful in treating patients with infectious diseases. Project raises funds for handicapped children A project titled Vé Đi Tuổi Thơ (Ticket to Childhood), dedicated to help handicapped children in Việt Nam, launched on June 2. The project is the result of cooperation between the Thiện Nhân and Friends Programme, under the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, and Ionah, a variety circus show. Besides calling for contributions from all over the country from those generous enough to donate, Vé Đi Tuổi Thơ also aims to change the community’s outlook on charity. The Ionah variety circus show will contribute money earned from the sale of 1,000 tickets issued for this summer’s performances for operations that are implemented within the Thiện Nhân and Friends Programme. The money from the tickets sold on June 2 was the first gift to the children covered under the programme. The Ionah show is a combination of various entertainment arts forms, including circus acts, dancing - such as hip-hop and belly dance - and light shows. The show aims to provide the highest satisfaction to the audience. To create an emotional experience, the show’s performances are based on Ionah’s love story. Each performer is a versatile artist who displays individual performance skills, as well as harmonious coordination with the other artists. The Ionah show will perform every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at the Star Galaxy Theatre until August 31. “We want the audience to realise tickets are not only pieces of paper. They can also bring happiness and belief,” Trần Mai Anh, the founder of the Thiện Nhân and Friends Programme, said. According to Mai Anh, each ticket sold as part of the Vé Đi Tuổi Thơ Project will help children suffering from the loss of their private parts to lead a normal and peaceful life. The Thiện Nhân and Friends Programme, which is part of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, was established to help Thiện Nhân, a three-day-old infant abandoned in a deserted garden in central Việt Nam, who had lost one leg and his private parts. He was adopted by journalist Trần Mai Anh, who has been by his side through multiple operations in the past nine years to help him lead a normal life. The programme has invited doctors from Italy and America to participate in nine medical missions through June - to consult and conduct over 200 free operations for over 600 handicapped children nationwide. Cường wins KSTC Junior Challenge tennis tourney Trần Quốc Cường won a tennis tournament in Thailand in the KSTC Junior Challenge’s U10 category. Unseeded Cường defeated a Thai player 4-1, 4-1 in the final to triumph in his category, which attracted the participation of 64 players. Cường, who began playing tennis at the age of 7, is playing for the Military team. Earlier, Nguyễn Đắc Tiến, another Vietnamese player, triumphed in the Thailand Open’s U18 tennis event in Muang Thong on May 23. Tiến was not a seed at this tournament, but he overcame all to win the title. Hanoi seminars educate travel agents on the ‘Magic of Hanoi’ The Hanoi Department of Tourism recently held seminars in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang highlighting the city’s tourism opportunities and educating the staff of some 100 local travel agencies on the ‘Magic of Hanoi’. Speakers at the seminars said the key tourism sections of town include the Old Quarter - Hoan Kiem Lake area, the area around the West Lake, and the political centre in Ba Dinh district in combination with the ancient Thang Long Citadel and the Temple of Literature. The suburban Dong Anh district is another area focusing on spiritual tourism at the Co Loa spiral-shaped citadel and Dao Thuc water puppetry village. Another section covers the Ba Vi area with Duong Lam ancient village, many eco-resorts and traditional craft villages such as Van Phuc (silk making) and Bat Trang (ceramics). This year, several special tourism products have been launched, with some of them to become annual events, such as the ‘Ky uc Hanoi’ (Memories of Hanoi), Hanoi traditional craft festival and Ao Dai festival. Notably, the ‘Cam xuc Hanoi’ (Feelings of Hanoi) has capitalized on the unique tangible and non-tangible values of the city from its beautiful natural landscape, historical sites to ancient crafts, folk arts and fine cuisine. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri