Social News 29/11 Police seizes 1.3 tonnes of animal organs   Police in central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province yesterday seized 1.3 tonnes of animal organs without clear origin being transported from central Đà Nẵng City to Quảng Trị Province for consumption. At about 3pm yesterday, traffic police in Thừa Thiên Huế Province’s Thủy Phương Commune pulled over a truck for regular inspection and found 26 foam boxes containing animal organs. Each box contained 50kg of animal organs. The truck driver, Nguyễn Quang Vĩnh, in Đà Nẵng City failed to show papers of origin for the goods. He admitted he was hired by a woman only known as Xuân in the same city to transport the cargo to a customer in central Quảng Trị Province. Xuân allegedly told him the boxes contained fish from the sea. The police have transferred the seized animal organs to the provincial Animal Veterinary Department. Get-together marks 98th Romania’s National Day The Vietnam-Romania Friendship Association (VRFA) held a get-together to mark the 98th National Day of Romania and the 25th founding anniversary of the association. Addressing the event, VRFA Chairman Tong Van Nga congratulated Romania on the great achievements the country has made during the struggle for national independence as well as in the current socio-economic development. In 2016, Romania’s GDP growth reached 5 percent, the highest level in the European Union, and its per capita income hit 20,000 USD per year. He said that the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Romania are based on mutual respect and understanding. Romania has trained more than 3,000 Vietnamese students and post-graduates who greatly contribute to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, culture, education and diplomacy. According to Romanian Ambassador to Vietnam Valerriu Arterni, the VRFA has served as a bridge for the two countries’ enterprises to meet and enhance business and investment collaboration. The association has regularly organised people-to-people exchange activities and arranged visits by Vietnamese alumni in Romania to their former schools, he added. He expressed his hope that based on the existing traditional friendship, the cooperation between Vietnam and Romania will develop sustainably in the future. ASEAN culture highlighted in Argentina Landscapes, cuisines and culture of Vietnam and several other ASEAN member countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines were introduced at a programme in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 27. The programme was hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina in coordination with the embassies of the above-said countries. It aims to enhance understanding about ASEAN in Argentina while stepping up cooperation between the South American nation and each ASEAN member country. Visitors to the festival were attracted by stalls displaying Vietnam’s Ao Dai (traditional long dress), handicrafts and photos capturing cultural identities of Vietnamese ethnic groups. Besides, Vietnam’s music, traditional martial art and Ao Dai performances, and Vietnamese dishes like Nem (spring rolls) and Nom (salad) also drew the enthusiastic response of the visitors. Clips introducing culture, trade and tourism in the five ASEAN countries were screened on this occasion. Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao made a brief on the formation and development of ASEAN over the past five decades, especially its achievements, role and position in the region and the world at large, as well as its contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific. He spoke highly of Argentina’s support and contributions to the group’s development, expressing his hope to receive more assistance from the country in the time ahead. As the rotating President of ASEAN in Argentina, the Vietnamese Embassy committed to continuing its coordination with embassies of other ASEAN nations in Argentina and competent agencies in the host country to organise more activities promoting ASEAN’s culture and tightening solidarity and friendship within the group and between the bloc and Argentina. Gia Lai holds exhibition to mark national resistance day A poster exhibition opened in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on November 28 to mark the 70th anniversary of the national resistance (December 19, 1946). On the display are 190 big-size posters from artists across the country. It aims to raise public awareness on the leadership role of the Party and late President Ho Chi Minh and significant contribution of the Vietnamese people in the past struggle to liberate themselves. Many of the posters also call on the public participation in protecting traditional values and promoting civilised lifestyle. The exhibition lasts through December 20. Ben Tre: Water station inaugurated in coastal district A water supply station, which can turn saltwater with salinity of 16‰ into fresh water, was inaugurated in An Hiep commune, Ba Tri district, the southern province of Ben Tre, on November 26. The An Hiep water station will be able to filter 1,000 cubic metres of surface water of the Giong Nhut canal per day to serve about 1,500 households. Depending on demands of local people, its water supply network will be expanded in the future, as will its capacity. Chairman of the Ba Tri district People’s Committee Duong Minh Tung said that Ba Tri is one of the three coastal districts of Ben Tre province that usually faces fresh water shortage, therefore, the water station will support local lives. Currently, the Tan My water supply plant in the district meets 44.7 percent of local people’s fresh water demand. Quang Ngai rescues fishing vessel in distress Authorities in the central province of Quang Ngai is making efforts to save a fishing vessel with seven fishermen on board, which encountered an accident while working near the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. The captain is Vo Duy Tien, 56, from Binh Chau commune, Binh Son district, Quang Ngai. Ship Qng 90134-TS left port on November 19. On November 27, its gearbox broke and could not be fixed, causing the ship to dock 50 nautical miles away from the Song Tu Tay island. The captain promptly called for urgent help. The Quang Ngai search and rescue agency has kept in touch with the vessel in distress and called on other boasts operating near its location to lend a helping hand.-VNA Power comes to Kien Giang’s island commune   The Southern Power Corporation under the Electricity of Vietnam on November 26 fired up an 110kV cross-sea transmission line to supply electricity to Lai Son island of the southern province of Kien Giang. With a total length of 43.9km, including 19.4 km on land and 24.5 km at sea, the An Bien-Lai Son 110 kV transmission line is the longest in Vietnam. The line, whose construction commenced in September 2015, is among projects providing power for island communes in Kien Hai, Kien Luong and Phu Quoc districts and Ha Tien town As many as 2,000 households in the island are expected to benefit from the 368 billion VND (16.3 million USD) project. The line will help promote socio-economic development, especially maritime economy, in Lai Son island in particular and Kien Giang province in general. The Southern Power Corporation plans to build more transmission lines to connect other islands in Kien Giang to the national grid, contributing to developing the maritime economy and forming an island system in the country’s southwestern waters. Southwest region boosts cooperation with Australia, Germany The Steering Committee for Southwest Region had a working session with the Australian and German ambassadors to Vietnam in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 28, with a focus on stimulating further engagement among the sides. At the meeting, Son Minh Thang, deputy head of the committee, informed his guests that the region plans to build an information centre in the Mekong Delta between 2017 and 2018 in a bid to enhance intra-regional connectivity. He said climate change impact is a pressing issue facing the region that needs international assistance, particularly from Australia and Germany, to tackle. He continued reviewing cooperation between the region and the two countries over past time. According to Thang, a marine zone management programme, sponsored by the German international cooperation agency GIZ, has introduced farming models as well as water and budget management methods to coastal localities in the Mekong Delta, helping them adapt to climate change. Meanwhile, the delta has, for many years, benefited from Australian-funded projects in education, poverty alleviation, health and climate change adaptation. Thang spoke highly of the outcomes of these projects and expected sides involved to continue working effectively in the future. He requested Germany and Australia consider providing technical and financial assistance for the building of the Mekong Delta information centre. Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said the Australian Government pays a particular interest in helping the Mekong Delta manage its water resources, and has sponsored to ensure the supply of water from upstream Mekong River to the area.   Australia has also supported the region in infrastructure development, he said, adding that there have been joint projects between Can Tho University and Australian research institutes. He pointed to the success of the Vietnam-Australian company in applying Australian technologies in shrimp farming, thus increasing productivity by up to 40 times. Chittick expected Australia and the southwest region will soon form partnership. German Ambassador Christian Berger said he is impressed by the region’s development plan in the coming time and the network formed by collaboration between the GIZ, banks and other international organisations here. IHL Moot Competition 2016 opens in HCM City The fourth International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Competition of Vietnam started in Ho Chi Minh City on November 28. The two-day competition features seven teams from five universities nationwide, including the HCM City University of Law, University of Economics and Law under the Vietnam National University - HCM City, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Ton Duc Thang University and the Vietnam National University - Hanoi. These events involve students taking on various roles that form part of contemporary IHL practice. The winning team will participate in the international Moot Court Competition. Vice Rector of HCM City University of Law Bui Xuan Hai said the competition helps law students from different universities meet and exchange experience, improve their skills as well as their foreign languages. It also offers opportunities for the students to put into practice what they learnt, to address legal issues. The annual Moot Court Competition is held all over the world, creating a venue for law students to practice as lawyers. Kien Giang builds five new hospitals The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is building five provincial-level hospitals, with a total investment capital of over 5.5 trillion VND (250 million USD). The facilities consist of a 1,200-bed general hospital, a 200-bed tuberculosis hospital, a 400-bed cancer hospital, a 100-bed psychiatry hospital, and a 400-bed obstetrics and paediatrics hospital. According to the provincial Department of Health, once operational the hospitals will markedly help reduce the current overload from the current 24.4 beds per 10,000 people to 26 beds by 2020. Kien Giang is short of 600 doctors to meet the target of nine doctors for every 10,000 people in 2020. US project helps rural inhabitants adapt to climate change Enhancing climate change resilience and mitigating the risks of natural disasters to improve rural livelihoods in the delta and coastal areas were the outcomes of a US-funded project announced at a recent conference in the northern province of Nam Dinh. The four-year-old Vietnam Forests and Deltas Programme (VFD) was sponsored by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for four provinces in Vietnam, said Director of the VFD project in Nam Dinh. It has been carried out in 30 communes and towns in Nam Dinh since April 2014 to increase local capacity to cope with environmental changes and prevent natural disaster risks, he added. The project also evaluates the vulnerability of communities inhabiting in coastal areas, supports prompt response activities at communal level, installs radio broadcasting systems for early warning of natural disasters, and assists the building of safe schools. It helps farmers build adaptive models such as low-emission rice cultivation, sustainable breeding of white-leg shrimp, and disease-resistant potato plantation to improve local incomes and ensure food safety and environmental protection. Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Phung Hoan said the VFD has helped raise public awareness of climate change, ecological protection and sustainable production, as well as supported communes to build storm shelters and early warning systems, provide rescue equipment, and hold response exercises. Farmers have been effectively applying agricultural production models that reduce emissions and protect the environment, he added. Director of the VFD Brian Bean said the active involvement of locals in the project proves the efficiency and feasibility of the VFD in Nam Dinh and other localities in general. In the coming time, the project will focus on activities to create livelihood for locals while expanding high-quality and sustainable rice and potato cultivation and treat agricultural by-products, he revealed. It will continue to evaluate the community-based natural disaster risks management, build plans to prevent natural disasters, improve early warning systems and upgrade shelters for coastal communes in the locality, he added. Be vigilant against animal disease outbreak: Ministry Though animal diseases have been under control so far, Việt Nam faces a high risk of epidemic outbreaks because of unfavourable weather conditions, an agriculture ministry official has said. The animals’ immunity is low because of weather conditions, so they are vulnerable to diseases, he said. Speaking at a meeting held last weekend to review disease prevention and control in livestock and aquatic species in 2016, Phạm Văn Đông, director general of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MARD) animal health department, called for increased vigilance to prevent outbreaks among cattle and poultry, especially of those that get transmitted to humans. At the meeting, Đông also set the agenda for 2017. Since the start of this year, bird flu has been reported in 14 communes and districts across eight provinces, said Nguyễn Ngọc Tiến, head of animal epidemic division in the animal health department. The number of poultry that had to be culled is 18,300. Both the number of communes that reported bird flu and the number of poultry culled have decreased two-fold compared with the previous year, Tiến said. At least 2,740 cattle have been infected by the foot and mouth disease, across 60 locations in 12 provinces. Tiến said animal diseases have been kept in check as strategies to control epidemic threats and outbreaks have been implemented in 60 of 63 provinces and cities. However, irregular veterinary services, lack of funding and not getting instructions on time pose challenges to the effort to prevent diseases, he added. Đông said all animal health staff at local levels should be proactive at disease prevention work and must coordinate their activities with farmers and local authorities. The animal health sector must also increase efforts to teach safe practices in raising cattle and poultry. He also suggested that the ministry should submit and get approved a national programme on disease control and prevention for the period 2016-20. Ha Noi wins first national petanque title Hà Nội won their first gold medal at the National Petanque Team Championship after years of waiting on Sunday. Hanoians topped the podium in the two mens and one womens event, beating Trà Vinh 13-5 in the final at the ongoing tournament in Sóc Trăng Province. Earlier they won bronze in the women’s team category. Head of Hà Nội Petanque Club Đặng Xuân Vui said it was a big step for the capital’s athletes. It would be a strong foundation so that his players could receive more support for titles at the Southeast Asian Games next year and the National Sports Games in 2018. The championship will continue with the two women’s and one men’s event. Kiều Tale chorus performed at church   A chorus performance of Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều) was held in St Nicolas Cathedral in Đà Lạt City on November 26. The event was organised by the church and artist Vũ Đình Ân from HCM City’s Music Association to give locals an opportunity to enjoy one of masterpieces of Nguyễn Du, according to the organisers. The 65-minute performance was directed by artist Vũ Đình Ân, sang by the Thiên Thanh group, presented by two singers, Đông Nghi and Thanh Sử and danced by a group of nuns. The chorus was composed over 22 months by artist Ân and recognised as a Vietnamese record as the longest chorus performance. Last year, exerpts of the chorus were also performed in Hà Tĩnh Province to celebrate the 250th anniversary of birth of Nguyễn Du, author of The Tale of Kiều. The Tale of Kiều is an epic poem in Vietnamese and is widely regarded as the most significant work of Vietnamese literature. This is a 3,254-line classic verse novel written in lục bát (six-eight meter), a traditional verse form of Việt Nam’s poetry. The work which was translated into some 20 different languages including French, Chinese, English, Russian and Japanese was recognized by the World Peace Council as one of the world’s celebrated cultural works in 1965. Its author, Nguyễn Du was also recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Celebrity in 2003. Li Lam set to put on fashion show in downtown HCMC Li Lam will hold Blue Night fashion show to mark the 7th anniversary of her fashion brand Lam at Hôtel des Arts Saigon, MGallery Collection in District 1, HCMC. The show will showcase over 40 minimalism designs combining both classic and contemporary features with hand-made embroidered patterns in theme colors of brown, sand gold, blue, red and black and white, and using velvet, silk, organza, and lace. The collection reflects Lam’s ambition to combine fashion, nature and art. This is the first time Li Lam has cooperated with conductor Tran Nhat Minh to turn Blue Night into a fashion, music and art event with the performance of a string assemble. Minh graduated from the Magnitogorsk State Conservatory, majoring in Chorus Conducting before getting a Master of Arts degree in chorus conducting at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Minh came second at an international contest for young conductors in Vladivostok, Russia in 2004 and won consolation prize at the Russia Competition for Professional Conductors. He has performed with Chamber Chorus of Moscow’s Conservatory in Russia, France, and Italy. Minh is a member of the HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) as a choirsmaster and vice chief of the opera. Li Lam started fashion business in 2008 with elegant and striking designs for women with unique handmade print patterns seen as her signature products. The 33-year-old designer has two stores in HCMC and Hanoi. PVN inaugurates analysis laboratory centre The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) has put into operation the analysis laboratory centre and the office of the Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) in the Saigon Hi-tech Park in Ho Chi Minh city. The facilities are part of the project that also includes construction of several manufacturing and support facilities, spanning over 40,000 square metres. The centre, equipped with modern facilities and software, is expected to analyse more than 90 percent of domestically produced fuel, reducing delivery fees and saving time. VPI Director Nguyen Anh Duc said the work will help PVN as well as his institute to master analysis engineering and laboratory equipment, thus promoting research, development and technology transfer, enhancing international cooperation, and creating a research – application – training link. The centre will also help VPI develop a database of sample analysis results and provide information for relevant bodies and PVN to develop relevant policies and strategies, thus enhancing competitiveness, training capability and human resources for the sector. PVN Deputy Director General Nguyen Quynh Lam underlined the group’s priority on technology studies, application and innovation, saying that the project will improve the institute’s research, optimise its technologies, produce chemicals and petroleum and oil products and protect the environment. He urged VPI to use the facility to provide more science-technology solutions and management for stakeholders in the sector. He pledged that the group will continue providing investment for the institute to implement its assignments. In the first 11 months this year, VPI has implemented over 300 science-technology research contracts and carried out numerous sample analyses. 99-year-old grandma wows crowd with jaw-dropping piano performance Ninety-nine-year-old pianist Thai Thi Lien gave the audience in Hanoi a performance to remember on the weekend, as she gracefully recited two classical pieces by Polish composer Frédéric Chopin. The performance was part of a concert put together by the Hanoi Conservatory of Music in commemoration of its 60th anniversary. Thai Thi Lien, mother to world-renowned Vietnamese-Canadian pianist Dang Thai Son, is among the first generation of professionally trained Vietnamese pianists. The 99-year-old grandmother had the auditorium in complete silence before breaking into a standing ovation on November 26 as she recited two classical pieces by 19th-century Polish composer Frédéric Chopin with grace and passion. Lien was born in then-Cho Lon City (now part of Ho Chi Minh City) to an educated Christian family, and was introduced to the piano at the age of four from the encouragement of her father, who later afforded her piano training at the Conservatoire de Paris when she was 16. In 1948, Lien and her first husband moved to live in the Czechoslovakian capital of Prague, where she earned her bachelor’s degree at the Prague Conservatory, being one of the first Vietnamese to do so. Bình Dương Television International Football Tournament to kick off The Bình Dương Television International Football Tournament-Number 1 Cup, is scheduled to begin on December 2 at Gò Đậu Stadium in the southern province of Bình Dương. The annual event will attract the participation of four domestic and four foreign teams. According to the draw, the hosts Becamex Bình Dương, Quảng Ninh Coal, South Korea student team and Cambodia’s Boeung Ket Angkor are to compete in Group A. Group B includes Hải Phòng, HSB Đà Nẵng, Bangu Atlético of Brazil and Shonan Bellmare of Japan. Teams will compete for the cup in a round robin format. The top two teams from each group will enter the semi-finals. The winner will receive VNĐ500 million (US$21,700) in cash, while the runners-up will receive VNĐ300 million and VNĐ150 million. The tournament will begin with Quảng Ninh Coal playing South Korea student team in group A. The final game is scheduled for December 11. HCMC ensures welfare, healthcare, education despite budget cut Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Dinh La Thang yesterday said that the city would still ensure social welfare, educational investment and medical development although the Government has decided to reduce the city’s annual budget keeping the rate from 23 percent to 18 percent in the phase of 2017-2020. The statement was made to reassure voters in District 3 who expressed concerns about the budget cut. According to Mr. Thang, the budget reduction will affect socioeconomic development however the city has much potential to exploit and make up the cut. At first, the municipal authorities will curb expenses, use the budget efficiently and prevent waste in public investment. The City will intensify social investment mobilization from domestic and abroad sources to implement projects under BT (Build-Operate), BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) and PPP (Public Private Partnership). At present, capital source from residents is very large and overseas remittances to the city approximate US$5 billion a year. Things that the city need to do now are to build a mechanism and create public confidence to raise these funds. The City's Party Chief revealed that the budget keeping the rate cut has been applied not only to HCMC but also other provinces and cities nationwide with large budget revenues. He hoped that voters will share difficulties with the country and the city. Despite the budget reduction, HCMC will still efficiently implement its seven breakthrough programs, which the city Party Committee congress’ resolution has defined, those are to ensure social welfare, improve education and develop healthcare, he affirmed. Citing Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong’s judgment about corruption fighting, Mr.Thang says that the issue is the concern of the entire society, state and party for relating to the country’s development and regime survival. The party and the Government have made much effort in anti-corruption, which he said a very complicated work, and gained some certain results.  In the upcoming time, they will continue carrying out more drastic measures with high and enduring determination to tackle the issue. At the meeting, Mr. Thang warned voters of conspiracy by hostile forces who have taken advantage of the corruption problem to oppose the party and the state. Voter Tong Son Hai from District 3 worried about trillion dong loss in making projects and proposed to clarify the responsibilities of relevant sides and strictly handle them to avoid wasteful projects. Mr. Thang said that the inspection of those projects had been conducted from previous tenures instead of starting in the current term. In the upcoming time, the Government will continue reviewing projects of ministries, agencies and localities and comprehensively estimate them to have solutions to minimize damage, he said quoting an instruction by the Prime Minister at the recent session of the National Assembly. Voters in the district also reported some other issues such as overloading curriculum of students in educational stages, unemployed bachelors, brain drain and long complicated land and housing procedures. In addition, they suggested the city to pay attention to the daily life of drug addicts at rehabilitation centers and not to implement the policy to take them back to their families. In the afternoon on the same day, the secretary met voters in Districts 1 and 4. Ms. Duong Thi My Dung from District 4 concerned that traffic accidents have recently occurred continuously killing many. Mr. Le Minh from District 1 said that the National Asembly (NA) supervision activities have been conducted well however authorized agencies have showed limitations in uncovering corruptions. Most of cases have been disclosed by the press before the agencies started investigation. So he proposed NA deputies to closely supervise these agencies to prevent negative problems from occurring. Hue Tourism and Culture Day to be held in Ha Noi   Hue Tourism and Culture Day will be held at Hanoi Opera House from December13-16. The event is a chance to promote Hue’s cuisine and tourism products to Hanoians. The program will include a cuisine and tourism promotion festival and an art performance themed “Winter in Hue”. Various Hue traditional dishes will be introduced to visitors, such as bun bo (beef noodles), com hen (rice with mussels), banh beo (rice cake with grilled shrimp), banh bot loc (dumplings with shrimp), banh khoai (fried rice crepes), che hat sen (sweet lotus seed pudding), me xung (sesame candy), tom chua (pickled shrimp), and more. The art performance “Winter in Hue” will bring images of Hue ancient capital with songs honoring love, nostalgia and the city’s renewal. The program is co-organized by the Minstry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the provincial People’s Committee. Cambodian major nabbed for smuggling gold into Vietnam A major-ranked border security officer from Cambodia has been detained for smuggling nearly 20 kilograms of gold into Vietnam. Major Rim Ri Linh, 50, deputy chief of the border security office in Phnom Denk, Cambodia, has been arrested for transporting 19 kilograms of gold into the southern Vietnamese province of An Giang, Huynh Ngoc Ho, head of the Customs Department at the Tinh Bien Border Gate in An Giang, affirmed on November 26. The Cambodian officer dressed in his uniform drove his automobile from Cambodia to Vietnam on November 25 and did not stop to finish paperwork regarding his immigration. Customs officers at the border gate coordinated with provincial police to seize the suspect as he was heading to Tinh Bien District, An Giang. The smuggled products included 18 24-karat gold bars worth over VND17 billion (US$753,563), officers said. According to Major Linh’s statement, he had accepted the offer of a Cambodian man named Ti to transport the gold to a Vietnamese woman in Nha Bang Town. The Cambodian major also admitted to committing thee other gold smuggling in November, with the exact amount remaining unclear. During an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, a gold specialist stated that smuggled gold is often sold to local citizens or used to produce jewelry. As gold prices have been high in Vietnam in the past years, many locals decided to buy smuggled gold instead. The contraband precious metal is often melted into raw gold before being distributed to local gold shops and buyers. According to the director of a Ho Chi Minh City-based gold company, gold distributed by major local firm SJC currently sells at VND35.71 million (US$1,582) per ounce while raw gold is offered at VND33 million (US$1,462) per ounce. PM urges mass vaccine production Việt Nam must be able to produce large amounts of multivalent vaccines in the coming years, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said. He made the statement due to the fact that by 2019, the country will no longer receive aid from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) for 5-in-1 combination vaccines as part of the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Việt Nam is one of few countries in the region able to produce vaccines for humans, the Ministry of Health said, with 11 out of 12 vaccines for the EPI produced in the country. However, the vaccines were all monovalent. This calls for autonomous mass production of multivalent vaccines in the country, especially the acellular 5-in-1 combination vaccines, which will replace the 5-in-1 Quinvaxem vaccines that have been provided by GAVI. To produce large amounts of multivalent vaccines, industrial factories for large-scale vaccine production are needed, according to representatives from the health, finance and science and technology ministries. These facilities should be managed by a government agency, PM Phúc said during a meeting with other leaders last week. The agency should consist of experienced officials familiar with vaccine research and technologies, he said. He said the Government would invest in developing core technology to produce multivalent vaccines. An import-export policy consistent with international standards and Việt Nam’s conditions should be developed alongside the research, he said. HCM City honours 138 individuals and groups for their noble contributions HCM City People’s Committee and Việt Nam Fatherland Front last Saturday honoured 113 individuals and 25 groups, clubs as well as associations in the city for their noble contributions to life in the city. Their contributions also help build one city with civilisation, modernism, love and a good quality of life, Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the city People’s Committee said at the honouring ceremony. They include seniors, workers, teachers, young people, nuns, monks and retired doctors. “Their silent and noble contributions need to be honoured because they are done from the heart. These people are the seeds that cultivate goodness in life.” Phong said. The 138 individuals and groups, typically, volunteer to raise orphans, help poor people as well as people with disabilities. They also provide free heath examinations and treatment, teach children with cancer as well as poor kids, and collect rubbish in canals. Charity food groups in Districts 1, 2, 11, 12 and Bình Thạnh provide free food to poor people. Free health examination and treatment by clinics are set up by war veteran associations in Gò Vấp District and nuns in Phú Nhuận District. Phạm Văn Lương, 50, of the northeastern coastal province of Quảng Ninh, moved to the city in 1991 and works as motorbike repairer in District 1. He has repaired motorbikes for free for people with disabilities. Martial arts instructor, Lê Hoàng Mai, of Tân Bình District teaches martial arts for free for workers at industrial parks and export processing zones and poor students. Moreover, many of them help former addicts or prostitutes who come back from rehabilitation facilities and fight against crime as well as drug traders in their localities. A team of motorbike taxi drivers in District 2, which was set up by the district Labour Union in 2008, for instance, helped seize more than 300 robbers. Some of those honoured were people with disabilities who are perseverant to overcome their disabilities and get success in life. Vũ Công Hào, 27, of Tân Phú District, is one of these people. He is the first visual impaired person to graduate from the city College of Culture and Arts. Currently, he is learning music education at the city Conservatory of Music while teaching music to children with visual impairment at Thiên Ân and Nhật Hồng shelters in Bình Thạnh District. At the honouring ceremony, Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh said that they were commendable models and their humanistic and wonderful activities should be spread to make society better and kinder. The city should continue discovering and honouring other people doing humanistic and wonderful activities, the vice president added. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE