Social News 3/11 Train-motorbike collision kills 2   A north-south train crashed into a motorbike last night in the capital’s Thanh Trì District, killing two people. Witnesses said the motorbike, coming from Alley 48 on Ngọc Hồi Street, was crossing the railway line when train No. SE3 collided with it. The crash threw the victims some 10m away and destroyed the motorbike. The two victims are Nguyễn Khắc Tuyền, 40, from Thanh Hóa Province, and Nguyễn Minh Thắng, 32, from Hà Nội. The automatic warning devices on the railway line were reportedly working properly before and after the accident occurred. The crash is under further investigation. Young officers promote Vietnam – China friendship Young officers from the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) expressed their wish to reinforce cooperation between the two countries during their talks in Hanoi on November 1. The Vietnamese delegation was headed by Senior Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Quoc Hung, Head of the Military Youth Committee under the VPA’s General Department of Politics while the Chinese guests were led by Senior Lieutenant Colonel Ding Luo Chao, Head of the Asian Affairs Department under the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission. The two sides agreed that the exchange helps to strengthen solidarity between the two armies. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Quoc Hung said the exchange of young officers is a highlight in defence collaboration between Vietnam and China, which helps cement their trust and sound relations. For his part, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Ding Luo Chao said the activity allows young officers to learn from each other, propelling bilateral coordination forward. The Chinese officer hoped to witness more effective cooperation between the VPA and the PLA. During their stay in Vietnam from November 1-5, the Chinese young officers are scheduled to visit several units to share experience in military youth movements and natural disaster response while engaging in various cultural activities. Shorter construction asked for Japan-loaned water project in Dong Nai The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam has proposed a construction duration of 36-38 months for a Japan-funded water drainage and wastewater treatment project in Bien Hoa city, southern Dong Nai province. In a working session with representatives from the provincial People’s Committee on November 1, JICA experts said the 48-month construction period proposed by local authorities would increase the cost of the project, while constructing it over 36-38 months can save 5 billion yen (about 40 million USD). Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Vinh stressed the proposed 48-month time aims to solve difficulties in the construction process. Currently, Bien Hoa city has no waste water treatment systems, meaning all waste water is discharged into rivers. Additionally, parts of Bien Hoa city face serious floods in recent years, causing traffic congestion and impacting the lives of citizens and business activities. The project will need a combined investment of over 8.2 trillion VND (around 369 million USD), including over 365 million USD in official development assistance from the Japanese Government. Once completed, it will help the locality effectively deal with issues related to water drainage and wastewater treatment. Exchange to promote Vietnam-Japan culture, trade links The 2nd Vietnam-Japan Culture and Trade Exchange Programme will take place at Luu Huu Phuoc park in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho from November 11-13, heard a press conference in the city on November 1. The event is expected to lay a foundation for trade and investment activities of Japanese enterprises in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta region in general, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam. Many localities in the region have recently exerted their efforts to attract investment from Japan, but the work has not yet been effective, he noted, attributing the situation to cultural differences between the two countries. According to the organising board, this year’s exchange programme will feature some 70 booths, 20 of which introduce Japan’s culture and products. On display are mainly farm and industrial products, tourism services, food, pharmaceutical products, education and employment consultation services, consumer goods, and souvenirs. Japan’s traditional dolls, masks and lanterns will be exhibited along with Vietnamese handicraft items such as calligraphy and paintings. About 26 Japanese artists will join 103 Vietnamese artists in 33 art performances, which are part of the event.-VNA New policies to reduce poverty among ethnic minorities Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved policies to support development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2017-2020, which aim to reduce the poverty ratio in the areas by 3-4 percent annually. The policies focus on tackling issues affecting locals’ living conditions and production, gradually improving the living standards for poor and ethnic minority families, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction and narrowing the development gap between ethnic minority and mountainous areas and other regions. As many as 80 percent of poor and ethnic minority households in rural areas will be supported to transform their lives. They will also receive assistance to access clean water. The aid will be directly given to the beneficiaries to ensure transparency. Local governments will hand over land or 15 million VND in cash to households that need farming land. The capital will be sourced from the State budget and loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP). If the local governments are unable to find land for the households, they will support them to change their occupation with 5 million VND, as well as loans from the VBSP. The beneficiaries can choose either support in faming land or in changing careers. Beneficiaries can borrow from the VBSP a loan that does not exceed the maximum sum for poor households in specific periods, with a duration of 10 years and an interest rate equal to 50 percent of the rate applied for poor households. Prague wants to foster ties with Hanoi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Lukas Kaucky said on November 1 his visit to Hanoi aims to boost wide-ranging cooperation between Prague and Hanoi.  Prague wants to share experience and support Hanoi in constructing modern transport infrastructure, hi-tech waste treatment systems, and developing tourism, the Deputy Minister said at his meeting with Vice Chairman of the host municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Doan Toan. The city is willing to work with Hanoi in preserving relic sites, promoting their cultural values for tourism development, he added.  Toan agreed with the guest, saying that Hanoi faces challenges in over loaded urban transport and environmental pollution treatment.  Hanoi is calling for investment in infrastructure, environment, tourism, and services projects, Toan said, pledging that Hanoi will support Czech investors in the city. Central localities work to tackle dengue fever Central Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa province have been taking measures to fight dengue fever as infections are rising rapidly. Da Nang’s preventive medicine centre reported that the city has so far this year recorded 3,183 cases of dengue fever, 709 more cases than the same period in 2015. In October alone, 150 cases were reported a week, mainly detected in Ngu Hanh Son, Cam Le, Thanh Khe, Hai Chau precincts and Hoa Vang district. Apart from intensifying monitoring cases, the health sector and local authorities have launched communications campaigns to encourage local people get involved in cleaning up the living environment to prevent new infections. Doctor Nguyen Tam Lam, who heads the contagious disease management and bio-vaccine department of the municipal preventive medicine centre, said health workers tackled 206 small-scale dengue fever outbreaks in 56 communes and wards. In Khanh Hoa province, 4,040 cases of dengue fever were uncovered in the past ten months, rising 0.5 percent from the same period last year. Infections rose especially between July and September. Health workers dealt with 213 outbreaks. The provincial health sector predicted a rise in dengue fever cases as the rainy season is favoured for mosquito breeding. Vice Director of the provincial health department Le Tan Phung, said killing mosquito larvae is the focal task in preventing new dengue fever incidences. Binh Phuoc announces end to diphtheria outbreak Local authorities in southern Binh Phuoc province announced on November 1 that the province had eliminated an outbreak of diphtheria on the district-level.  On June 22, the outbreak was first reported in Thuan Loi and Thuan Phu communes of Dong Phu district. The disease claimed three lives, two in Thuan Loi and the other in Thuan Phu.  Binh Phuoc province declared a district-level diphtheria outbreak in July 2016. Up to 47 people were hospitalised with the disease.  The provincial Health Department worked with the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City and the city-based Hospital for Tropical Diseases to conduct tests, sterilisation and assess treatment and prevention options  The last patient was discharged from hospital on August 29 and prevention activities were launched. No new cases have been found in the province.  Local authorities assigned the Health Department to monitor the situation and report to the provincial People’s Committee.  Health agencies said that this was the first outbreak of diphtheria in the province, with the infected cases mainly from 6 to 26-years-old.  The disease occurs when diphtheria bacteria is transmitted to humans through respiration, leading to fever, sore throat, heavy coughing and headache. Tùng completes hat-trick at national cycling champs Huỳnh Thanh Tùng secured a hat-trick at the National Road Race Cycling Championship after winning another gold medal on November 1 in Hòa Bình Province. Tùng of the Military Zone 7 crew finished first in the men’s 4km time trial event with a time of 5min 19.23sec. The national team member left his seniors Mai Nguyễn Hưng of VUS HCM City and Nguyễn Tấn Hoài from Đồng Tháp behind with a gap of five seconds. It was his third gold at the event following the title in the men’s 40km time trial on October 30 and the men’s 44km point trial one day earlier. On the women’s side, Bùi Thị Quỳnh of Bình Dương completed her 3km time trial with a time of 4:42. She successfully defeated An Giang’s reigning champion Lâm Thị Kim Ngân, who came second, and Nguyễn Thị Thu Mai of An Giang, who came third. In the men’s 500m time trial, Nguyễn Thành Tâm of An Giang won his first gold medal. He was followed by Hà Thanh Tâm also from An Giang and Đỗ Tuấn Anh from Đồng Tháp. Southeast Asian Games champion Nguyễn Thị Thật topped the women’s race. It was the fourth title for the An Giang crew. Her teammate Trần Thị Thùy Trang bagged a silver, while Phạm Hồng Loan of Bình Dương grabbed a bronze. The last four events of the championship will be held today. Athletes compete in men’s and women’s doubles 500m and men’s and women’s team time trials (4km for men and 3km for women). Bomb weighing 300kg found in Dak Nong province A bomb weighing nearly 300kg has been discovered in Tuy Duc district in the Central Highland province of Dak Nong.  The Military Command of Tuy Duc district is making procedures to destroy the bomb, the second of its kind found in the district in 2016.  Local residents discovered the bomb lying 0.5 metres underground. The bomb is 1.6 metre long and has a diameter of 0.3 metres.  The bomb was deformed and its painted signs were lost due to being underground for a long time.  The scene is quarantined and protected by the Military Command of Tuy Duc district, to ensure safety before the destruction. Laos honours Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, experts Laos has conferred orders and medals to 358 Vietnamese former voluntary officers and experts for their services in Laos’ national liberation cause.  A ceremony was held in the central province of Ha Tinh on November 2 to present the awards.  Speaking at the ceremony, Laos’ Ambassador to Vietnam Thongsavanh Phomvihan praised the faithful friendship between the two countries and stressed that the Party, State and people of Laos will never forget the assistance of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers.   The Ambassador said he believes that former Vietnamese soldiers will continue to contribute to the Vietnam-Laos relationship.  In 1945, the Vietnamese and Lao governments signed an agreement on the Vietnam-Laos cooperation and support and formed the Laos-Vietnam joint army to protect each country’s independence.  On October 30, 1949, the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee established the Vietnamese military force in Laos, which was called “Vietnamese voluntary soldiers”.  Ha Tinh province has more than 10,000 people who volunteered to help Laos in the fight for national independence. Of the voluntary soldiers and experts, over 1,000 died and 5,000 were injured during their mission in Laos.-VNA Vietnam attends Indo Defence Expo and Forum 2016 A Vietnamese delegation has attended the Indo Defence Expo and Forum 2016at the invitation of Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence. The delegation was led by Lieutenant General Pham Hong Huong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army. The event, themed “Bolstering Defence Industry Cooperation: Achieving a Global Maritime Fulcrum and Secure World”, is being held from November 2-5 in Jakarta. The expo draws the participation of over 844 companies, including 573 foreign ones from 54 countries and territories. At the event, Vice President of Indonesia JusufKalla declared the expo aims to showefforts to protect world peace. This isone of the biggest expos in ASEAN on defence, aerospace and marine technology, which is held biennially. Japan to fund big wastewater treatment project in Dong Nai The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the People’s Committee of southern Dong Nai province have reached consensus on the funding for a drainage and wastewater treatment project in Bien Hoa city after 10 years of negotiations. Representatives of JICA and Dong Nai province inked the minutes of discussion on November 2. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Vinh stressed that the project will benefit not only Bien Hoa city but also the whole southern region. Localities along Dong Nai River such as Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces and Ho Chi Minh City have been using water from the river for daily activities, he noted, adding that if the negotiations extend further, the life of tens of millions of local residents will be affected as all wastewater of Bien Hoa city has been discharged into Dong Nai river without treatment. JICA will submit the project to the Japanese Government for approval before an agreement on the loan is officially signed. According to the provincial authorities, the project will have a total investment of 238 million USD, including 261 million USD in official development assistance (ODA) funded by Japan and the remainder provided by Dong Nai province. The project is expected to be put into operation after 37 months of construction. Mekong Delta forges connectivity for stronger development Mekong Delta localities should further enhance connectivity to promote strengths and address challenges in order to achieve stronger socio-economic development, Chairman of Can Tho municipal People’s Committee Vo Thanh Thong said at a conference in the city on November 1. According to the official, the Mekong Delta key economic region council has promulgated a regional coordination blueprint for the 2016-2020 period, which aims to accomplish at least 75 percent of planned major projects, complete 80 percent of the cooperation agenda on human resource development and fine-tune a regional database system. The region will propose centrally-run ministries and sectors provide capital to build Can Tho – Chau Doc highway, restructure agriculture in Long Xuyen Tetragon, improve the southern coastal belt road, and construct waterworks along the Hau river. Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region Nguyen Trung Hieu suggested the issuance of Government bonds to implement key transport projects while devising mechanisms to increase financial aid for the localities. He noted that the region has only 40 km of highway, a small proportion as compared to the total of 700km in the country. Vice Chairman of An Giang provincial People’s Committee Le Van Nung said the construction of the Can Tho – Chau Doc highway should be kicked off as soon as possible to connect with the transport system of Long Xuyen Tetragon. Vice Chairwoman of Kien Giang provincial People’s Committee Le Thi Minh Phung stressed the need to expand N1 road connecting Tinh Bien district in An Giang to Ha Tien district in Kien Giang from now to 2020. The connection of N1 road with the southern coastal belt road will enable passengers to travel from Can Tho city to other provinces in the region, she said. Participants held that the building of waterworks along the Hau river is needed to cope with serious drought and serve the daily life and production of local residents. The Mekong Delta key economic region comprises 12 provinces and one centrally-run city, namely Can Tho, Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau. Project aims to support least-populated minorities Ethnic minority groups with the least populations in 194 villages in 37 mountainous provinces nationwide will be supported to improve their living conditions and catch up with other ethnic groups in terms of development.  Under a newly-approved project to assist them in 2016-2025, infrastructure in mountainous villages will be upgraded to new-style rural areas criteria.  The groups will be helped to preserve their traditional cultural identity and enhance their spiritual life.  The project also aims to strengthen personnel training and build the local political system, while improving the implementation of current support policies in education and health care, with the least populated ehtnic groups prioritised.  The measures are part of efforts to increase the position of the groups, reduce poverty among them and improve their lives in a sustainable manner, thus reducing the development gap between them and other ethnic groups in the region.  The project targets poverty reduction of 7-8 percent per year, making the living standards of the groups equal to that of other ethnic minorities, and boosting engagement in the local political system.  The objectives also include building a transport system in all targeted villages, ensuring access to the areas during all seasons through the year. Seminar looks into Buddhist Sangha’s 35-year development A seminar took place in Ho Chi Minh City on November 2 , providing participants with an insight into the 35-year development of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS). Addressing the event, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Deputy Patriarch of the VBS Patronage Council, said the seminar offers a chance to assess the historical role of the Sangha as well as its great contributions to the national development over the past 35 years. Its outcomes will serve as a foundation for in-depth studies on Buddhism and its social responsibility, he noted. According to Asso. Prof. Dr. Vo Van Sen, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, over the past years, the VBS has always accompanied the nation, especially in social and cultural activities, contributing to diversifying the national culture and promoting the national solidarity. Sharing view on the great role of the Sangha in the national development, Le Thanh Hai, former Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, stated that the VBS’s contributions are acknowledged as it has been twice presented the Ho Chi Minh Order and many of its monks have been honoured with orders, medals and other noble rewards by the Party, State and the Vietnam Fatherland Front. He expressed his hope that the VBS and its chapter in Ho Chi Minh City in particular will continue promoting their role in uniting the people and joining national efforts to successfully implement the industrialisation, modernisation and international integration. As part of activities to celebrate the 35 th anniversary of the VBS, the seminar was co-organised by the Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute under the VBS and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Thanh Hóa tightens control over wild animal farms The People’s Committee of the central Thanh Hóa Province have asked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Forest Protection Department, and local authorities to re-examine more than 280 wild animal farms in the province. The committee required relevant authorities to pay special attention to tiger raising farms located in the Thọ Xuân District; bear farms in Thanh Hóa City, Bỉm Sơn Town, and Hậu Lộc and Tĩnh Gia districts; crocodile ponds in Yên Định, Thiệu Hóa districts; and cobra raising businesses in 12 districts in the province. Nguyễn Đình Xứng, chairman of the Provincial Committee said he would revoke operation certificates for wild animal farms that failed to ensure the safety requirements and criteria laid down for farms. He also asked authorised agencies to quickly formulate a plan for raising wild animals and gradually relocate wild animal farms out of residential areas. Figures from the committee showed that there are more than 280 wild animal farms with 18,853 animals. In’tl fireworks logo contest launched The organising committee of Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Competition 2017 has launched a contest to determine its logo.  Anyone, Vietnamese or foreign, professional or amateur, is eligible to apply, and contestants will send their designs till November 25th for a fan vote between November 26th to December 2nd. The awarding ceremony will be held on December 5th, and the winner will walk away with cash-prize of VNĐ30 million (US$1,300), while runner-up will pocket VNĐ10 million ($433), and a fanpage prize VNĐ10 million ($433). The contest organisers will also present a Graphic suite scholarship. Contestants can send their designs to email: logo@diff.vn or visit www.diff.vn or facebook.com/diff.vn. The city also officially announced FPT Arena and RGB.vn as two sponsors for the event. Đà Nẵng has hosted the annual competition since 2008, and the event became biennial in 2015. Last month, the city received an award for Asia’s Leading Festival and Event at the World Travel Awards ceremony for tourism. Hundreds of workers in hospital after meal Hundreds of workers from a textile company in Thuận An town in Bình Dương Province were rushed to hospitals and clinics yesterday evening for suspected food poisoning. The victims, all employees of Apparel Far Eastern Ltd Company, complained of headache, vomiting and stomach pain around 30 minutes after their meal at 5pm. Some are reported to have fainted. The meal, served before the night shift, included soup, fish, chicken and papaya. Doctors at the general hospital in Thuận An said the hospital admitted more than 100 patients with similar symptoms around the time their shift ended. All doctors and nurses whose shifts had ended had to stay back to treat patients, they said. The hospital ran out of beds and had to use a hall to accommodate the large number of patients coming in. Several serious cases have been transferred to the provincial general hospital. Investigations into the incident are underway. HCM City to restore Bình Tây Market The 88-year-old Bình Tây Market in HCM City’s District 6 will be restored later this year. Ngô Thành Luông, chairman of the district’s People’s Committee, said the district was waiting for approval of the project plans from the city’s People’s Committee. “We hope the restoration can begin later next month,” Luông said at a recent conference that discussed the project with district authorities and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Department of Construction. The tile roof, stairs, walls and floors of the market would be renovated based on the original designs. A new basement and flower garden will be built in the middle of the market. The district has asked the District 6 Board of Construction Project and Investment Management to carry out the restoration. The funds for the project will be drawn from the district’s budget and private sources of capital. According to the board, a temporary market was built near Bình Tây Market. About 1,077 sellers at Bình Tây Market agreed to move out during the restoration and will return when the work is completed. Luông said the move would be completed by November 15. He was concerned that the project would not begin on schedule because the city had yet to approve it. However, Nguyễn Văn Minh, deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the department had urged the People’s Committee to approve soon. The project is expected to take one year to complete. Bình Tây Market was built in 1928 by a Chinese businessman named Guoyan (also known as Quách Đàm), who hired a French architect to design the building, which has traditional Chinese architecture. Located in Chinatown, it is one of the biggest wholesale markets in HCM City, offering a wide range of goods. It was renovated in 1991 and 2006. Honda Vietnam wins at 17th Safe Driving Contest in Japan Instructors from Honda Vietnam have won high prizes at the 17th International Safe Driving Contest recently held in Japan. The contest attracted the participation of representatives from 10 nations including Thailand, India, Singapore, Turkey, Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan. This is the third consecutive year Honda Vietnam’s team has won victory in the 400cc category of vehicles. Phung Xuan Truong from Honda Vietnam won second prize with a score of 2,803 points out of 3,000 points while Nguyen Van Quyet, Le Hong Quan and Nguyen Duc Long clinched second and third place prizes. Honda Vietnam’s team ranked second overall at the contest, after Honda Thailand. The Safe Driving Contest has been organized by Honda Motors since 1997 with the aim of improving safe driving skills of Honda staff worldwide. Over 88,000 households in HCMC decline to use tap water Saigon Water Supply Corporation (Sawaco) said it has spent a huge amount of money installing pipelines and water meters in HCMC but 88,300 households citywide have declined to use running water. The water meters have been in place for a long time but they have remained idle, according to Sawaco. These households, especially in outlying districts, use well water instead of running water. “Around 7% of its total customers are not at all using running water while 10% are using little water (one to four cubic meters per month),” said Sawaco. Sawaco said this is a huge waste of money and that well water may expose users to potential health risks as the overexploitation of underground water is causing serious environmental pollution. The corporation said the city government had issued regulations banning or restricting the use of underground water but the situation has remained almost unchanged. It proposed the city tighten these regulations. Data of Sawaco shows that as of October 15 this year, around 94% of the city’s households have access to running water. Illegal chemical workshop worries locals A chemical processing and trading workshop in Phước Lập Hamlet, Tân Thành District of southern Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province is affecting people’s health. Dozens of households in the area have complained to the local authority about the workshop, which has been operating for more than five years, but the local authority has been ignoring it.  “Every day the workshop is always busy, even until midnight. Trucks come to get foul-smelling chemicals," Phạm Thế Hùng, a local, said. Besides this, wastewater from the workshop is discharged directly into the sewage system and canals, he said. At present, many locals, especially aged people and children, are suffering from breathing-related diseases, Hùng said. “We complained to the local authority several times, but the situation hasn’t been resolved yet,” he said. Online newspaper vov.vn reported that the workshop has no name and is located in a 2,000sq.m- area with a makeshift house fenced by a low wall. In the workshop area, there are hundreds of containers of toxic hydrocloric acid. Nguyễn Thanh Diệu, head of Mỹ Xuân Commune, said the local government has inspected and checked the workshop for violations. Colonel Trương Văn Nghị, from the Economic, Drug and Environment Police of Tân Thành District, said the workshop belonged to the Chân Tín Company, which specialised in chemical trading.  The company has been fined for environment protection violations, the colonel said. The workshop just reopened after operations were halted in late 2014. However, the company’s head did not inform the local government.  HCM City, An Giang win team time trials in cycling VUS HCM City defended their men’s team time trial title at the National Road Race Cycling Championships on Monday in Hòa Bình Province. The reigning champions completed the 80km stage in 1:45.51. They were followed by Đồng Tháp and Hà Nội. Despite winning, coach Đỗ Thành Đạt was not happy and expressed concern that it may be the last title for the team. “Trương Nguyễn Thanh Nhân will retire by the end of this year. Mai Nguyễn Hưng is planning for a new life abroad. We lack young athletes. These problems may kick us out of the top position that we have held for the past six years,” Đạt said. On the women’s side, An Giang cycled without their best athlete Nguyễn Thị Thật, but still won the gold medal with a time of 1:06.14. Bình Dương and Đồng Tháp came second and third, respectively. The men’s and women’s 500m events, the men’s 4km time trial and women’s 3km time trial took place place yesterday. Solemn funeral service held for former National Assembly Vice Chairman Solemn memorial ceremonies of Truong Quang Duoc, former Politburo member and National Assembly Vice Chairman, were held on the early morning of November 1 in Hanoi. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan were among the mourners at former NA Vice Chairman Truong Quang Duoc’s State funeral. Former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; former Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang; former National Assembly Chairmans Nguyen Van An and Nguyen Sinh Hung; along with former leaders were also among those who came to pay tribute to the former leader. Former Party General Secretary Do Muoi; former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and Nguyen Tan Dung sent wreaths of flowers and messages of condolences to the former NA Vice Chairman’s state funeral. Former National Assembly Vice Chairman Truong Quang Duoc was born in 1940 in Quang Nam province. He assumed important positions in the Party, State and NA, including becoming a member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Politburo, a National Assembly deputy, and National Assembly Vice Chairman. He was honored with a badge for his 50th year as a party member, the Ho Chi Minh Order, the first-class Labor Order, and the third-class Anti-US Resistance Order. PM hopes for UK magazine’s continued cooperation with Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has wished that The Economist magazine of the UK will continue its effective coordination with Vietnam so as to promote the country’s economic and investment environment as well as introduce its development policies to international investors. At a reception for the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Asia-Pacific Editorial Director Charles Goddard in Hanoi on November 2, the PM spoke highly of efforts made by The Economist and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in organising the Vietnam Summit 2016. He expressed his belief that this year’s conference will actively contribute to promoting the Vietnamese economy to the international business community. He applauded the magazine’s selection of the conference theme “Smooth Sailing Ahead”, focusing on many practical issues for Vietnam after it started to implement its 2016-2020 socio-economic development plan.  PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated the Vietnamese Government is striving to build a government of integrity with strong actions that is instrumental to development, hoping that the conference will help the global business community understand more about development opportunities and prospects in Vietnam as well as the Government’s strategies and policies, hence having effective business strategies in the country. For his part, Charles Goddard showed his interest in Vietnam’s measures to transform its development model and increase productivity as well as difficulties facing the country in the implementation process. He shared PM Phuc’s view that a peaceful and stable environment and a pure government are needed to develop the economy. Huế artist showcases realist paintings On Saturday, Manzi Art Space will present a solo exhibition showcasing new paintings by Huế-based artist Nguyễn Đình Hoàng Việt. Việt is best known for his trompe l’oeil (a type of realist optical illusion art) portraits of rodents and fish looking trancelike, as if dreaming. The latest work in the continuation of the animal series – presented as the first half of ?! – features painted renditions of dead chickens, ducks and crabs. This time, however, they are flanked by comical exclamation marks and empty, black speech bubbles. The second half of ?! showcases Việt’s venture into a new area of interest – everyday objects – for which he has been producing 2D replicas of things we see daily with his trademark photorealist precision. The exhibition will open at 6.30pm on Saturday, and run until December 6. Manzi Art Space is at 14 Phan Huy Ích Street. Entry is free. Workshop to share craft of bookbinding Tomorrow, Blossom Art House will host a workshop on the ins and outs of book binding conducted by Saghi Parkhideh – an Iranian artist who works predominantly in print making and drawing. Bookbinding is the physical process of assembling a book from a stack of ordered paper folded together into sections. According to Parkhideh, there is a subtlety and craft that make each book well-bound book beautiful and distinctive. Participants will be divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advance. The workshop will start with a simple Pamphlet stitch book then move on to a flutter book and finish with the Japanese four-hole stab binding. The workshop will take place from 7-9pm. Blossom Art House is at 94B Trần Hưng Đạo Street.  VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE