Social News 14/11 Electric-buses to pick up passengers at water-bus stations   An electric bus in the HCM City centre. The city’s Department of Transport has proposed offering electric-bus shuttles for passengers using the water-bus service, slated to begin in late November.  The HCM City Department of Transport has proposed offering several electric bus routes to pick up and drop off passengers using the city’s water-bus service, which is slated to start at the end of November. The three pilot electric-bus routes would serve water-bus passengers travelling to sightseeing locations or residential areas. The first route would cover the city’s centre, starting from Bạch Đằng Station, while the second and third routes would operate in District 2, starting from Bình An and Thảo Điền stations, respectively. The electric buses can carry eight to 14 passengers. Ten buses would cover the three routes, from 5 am to 10 pm daily. The water bus service will travel from District 1 to Thủ Đức District on the Sài Gòn River. Youth Union congress discusses support for start-ups HCM City leaders have called on the city Youth Union to provide greater support to young people starting up businesses, with a focus on innovation and technology. “The HCM Youth Union should be fully and deeply aware of the role of young people in the new development era,” city Party Secretary Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, said in his speech at the 10th Youth Union congress yesterday. “Young people play a very important role in any society, especially at the current time as the country strongly promotes industrialisation, modernisation and international integration. “Young people should take advantage of opportunities for their own development and contribute to the country.” The secretary of the central HCM City Communist Youth Union, Lê Quốc Phong, hoped the Youth Union would come up with more new development models for start-ups by young people. “The Youth Union must prove its role and mission in bringing about new developments. The Innovative Youth Movement should receive investment to achieve a new level of development. “The Youth Union should promote the spirit of learning among young people, especially English and new technologies, and improve the quality of its job consultancy.” Trương Lý Hoàng Phi, director of the HCM City Youth Federation’s Young People Startup Support Centre, said: “To make HCM City a city for start-ups, we must train and educate young people in start-ups and innovation. The Youth Union must be a close partner for young people in setting up businesses.” Phi suggested that the Youth Union should create an investment network and connectivity with the local and international start-up communities and invest in start-up incubation programmes. In its previous tenure in 2012-2017 the Youth Union arranged loans for over 31,000 young people to do business. In its current tenure it hopes to support at least 10,000 ideas and initiatives and assist 50 start-ups. At the event the Youth Union was conferred the president’s Independence Medal, first class. Deputy Minister urges geothermal research Việt Nam’s national energy development plan does not include geothermal sources, but a senior official said yesterday that it was time to study their potential in the country. Geothermal energy is heat energy generated and stored in the earth. It is said to be a clean, sustainable source. Nguyễn Linh Ngọc, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), was speaking at a conference held in the capital city on geothermal energy in the Asia-Pacific region. Ngọc said that small-sized hydropower plants provide 70 per cent of the total country’s total energy output, leaving biogas/biomass a distant second at 14 per cent, while renewable energy, including solar and wind energy, both account for about 6 per cent. Meanwhile, geothermal energy has remained a complete no-show. Feasibility studies were only recently conducted in the central provinces of Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị. Ngọc said that energy production accounted for the release of 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but in Việt Nam, the figure was more than 50 per cent because of pollution from fossil fuels-based energy plants. In 2015, at COP21, the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, Việt Nam pledged to unconditionally cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 8 per cent by 2030 compared to business-as-usual (BAU) projections, or by up to 25 per cent if international support was forthcoming. At yesterday’s conference, experts and scientists from many countries discussed direct use of geothermal power and ground-source heat pumps (GSHP), the benefits of geothermal energy and geothermal power production - and technologies for the treatment of geothermal reservoirs to enhance electricity generation. The many socio-economic benefits of geothermal energy were also highlighted, including energy security, improved ecology and low emissions. The conference was organised by the Việt Nam Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources and the Geothermal Implementing Agreement (IEA Geothermal). IEA Geothermal, operating under the International Energy Agency, aims to boost international co-operation on geothermal energy production and use. VN needs more women working in STEM: experts The number of Vietnamese women and girls in STEM (sciences, technology, engineering, and math) fields remains low, mostly due to social and environmental factors, Dr Lê Thị Kim Phụng, deputy head of HCM City University of Technology’s chemical engineering faculty, said yesterday at a conference held in the city. “There are very few senior women ahead on the path, and mentoring opportunities are rare. But just knowing those few women achieved success gives me hope,” said Phụng, who won the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women last year for her research on biofuels created from agricultural waste such as rubber seed oil, ground coffee and fruit. Phụng spoke at the Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math 2017 Conference which examined the evolving role of females in Vietnamese society, especially in STEM fields. Many women scientists and engineers pursue academic careers despite conflicts between their roles as parents and as scientists and engineers, she said, adding that these efforts, however, are often not recognised as a high level of dedication to their careers. In childhood and adolescence, girls move away from STEM fields because of parents’ expectations of daughters, peer norms, or lack of fit with personal goals, Phụng said. In emerging adulthood, girls often feel like a misfit in STEM classes, and are outnumbered by male peers. They also lack female role models, which causes them to leave the field prematurely or not enter it at all, she added. Speaking at the conference’s opening, US Consul General Mary Tarnowka said: “While the initial choice to join STEM is important, what’s paramount is the engagement of young women in formal and informal environments, encouraging mentoring to support women throughout their academic and professional experiences, and supporting efforts to retain women in the STEM workforce.” “When we turn our attention to scientific research, we see that only one-fifth of key national science and technology programmes were conducted with women as scientific leaders or with a high percentage of women researchers,” Tarnowka said. Of more than a thousand Vietnamese patent applications, fewer than 9 percent were from women. At the same time, there’s a glass ceiling for women to gain professorships. Even though half of all university faculties employ women, only 11 percent gain professorships, with those in the STEM fields considerably lower. In addition, scholarships for advanced study become increasingly limited for women academics to excel beyond the initial level. “Yet we need more women in STEM fields,” she said. “Because STEM fields are dominated by men, much of the design we encounter in our everyday lives is made only with half of the population in mind.” The majority of computer programmers and coders are males creating smart homes, devices and cars, but not from the perspective of women, their primary consumer, she said. Women account for 85 per cent of all consumer purchases, including 66 per cent of computers and 65 per cent of new cars. Leaving women out of the product development process will potentially lead to technology companies with little value to their main customer, she said. Studies and research have shown that companies that employ more women consistently outperform their competitors. STEM careers offer women the opportunity to engage in some of the most exciting realms of discovery and technological innovation that are also the high-tech, high-wage jobs of the future, Tarnowka said. As a result, increasing opportunities for women in these fields are an important step towards realising greater economic success and equality for women across the board, she said. The conference was held by the HCM City University of Technology in co-operation with the Việt Nam Association for Intellectual Women, and the Building University-Industry Learning and Development through Innovation and Technology (BUILD-IT) programme at Arizona State University. Centre for kids with disabilities gets solar power The central province of Quang Ngai is cooperating with the Ho Chi Minh City-based SolarBK company to launch a solar power project for the centre for children with disabilities in Nghia Hanh district. The company told Viet Nam News that the renewable power system will provide 40.8KWh (kilowatt per hour) to the centre every day, and help saving 50 million VND (2,200 USD) in power consumption from the national grid each year. The centre hosts 120 children with different disabilities. The clean power system, built with 250 million VND (11,000 USD) in funds from the HCM City branch of national utility firm Vietnam Electricity (EVN). This is the first charity project supported by EVN in the central province. Typically, the centre uses more than 16,000KWh at a cost of 26 million VND (1,100 USD) from the national grid each year. It said money saved using the solar power system will be used to provide service, food and healthcare for its young wards.  In August, the company had put into operation a solar power system on An Binh islet off Ly Son island, 30km off the provincial coast, supplying free and clean power to 400 resident islanders. SolarBK said it plans to build a solar power system for operating the 2012-built seawater desalination station on the islet.- Venezuelan FM extends sympathy to Vietnam over flood losses Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on November 13 sent a message of sympathy to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh over losses caused by recent floods. Typhoon Damrey, the 12th major storm in the East Sea, hit Vietnam’s south central coast on November 4.  Following downpours and floods had claimed 89 lives and left 18 missing and 174 others injured in central and Central Highlands localities as of November 7 night, according to the National Committee for Search and Rescue. Embassy in Netherlands raises funds for flood-hit victims The Embassy of Vietnam to the Netherlands held a charity event on November 12 to raise funds for people recently affected by storms and floods in Vietnam. The event attracted the participation of Vietnamese diplomats, expats and students living in the Netherlands. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa said the embassy has initiated the fundraising since early November to share difficulties with flood-hit victims back home. Since then, the embassy has received donations from Vietnamese expats and students from across the Netherlands in different forms, she noted. Hoa also added that she was very touched by the expats’ solidarity and love towards the homeland. According to the ambassador, the money raised, worth nearly 4,000 EUR, will be transferred to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later sent to the victims to help them return to normal life. Daegu city’s culture, arts introduced in HCM City A festival themed “Colours of Daegu City” opened in the evening of November 12 as part of the Ho Chi Minh City-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2017. Hundreds of visitors were entertained with artistic and cultural performances by artists from the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s city and students of the Keimyung University.  Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem said his city and Daegu set up cooperative and friendship ties in 2015, with encouraging outcomes recorded so far. He expressed his belief that the two cities will see more cooperation opportunities in the future, adding that mutual understanding between their people will be boosted via cultural and trade exchanges. Kwon Young Jin, Mayor of Daegu, said Daegu is a “city of culture and art.” Based on the basis of the established bilateral ties between Daegu and HCM City, their people will become closer through cultural and artistic activities. Daegu is one of the largest cities in the Republic of Korea, only behind the capital city of Seoul, Busan and Incheon. Community advised to keep vigilant on dengue Despite a recent sharp fall in the number of dengue cases, the community should not neglect preventive measures against the epidemics, warned the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health. According to the department, from October 30-November 5, as many as 2,744 dengue cases were reported across the country, down 17.9 percent over the previous week, without fatality. A downturn was seen in 47 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide, while a slight increase was recorded in only three southern provinces, namely An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Tay Ninh. Although cooler weather has recently reduced mosquitoes in the northern region, the southern and central regions are still in a peak season of dengue, the department said. In Hanoi, the ministry’s Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control has kept a close watch on developments of the disease, while stepping up the killing of mosquitoes and larva in risky areas. The ministry has also provided 40 additional chemical spraying machines and 30 large-capacity machines to serve these activities. People are advised to take measures to kill mosquitoes and larva, and protect themselves from mosquitoes, while coordinating with authorities in spraying anti-mosquito chemicals. They are also asked to reach health care facilities promptly for testing and treatment when finding any symptoms of dengue such as fever and joint paint. Vinamilk provides 3 billion VND in aid to flood-hit people The Vietnam Diary Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) has offered 3 billion VND (132,000 USD) donated by its 6,000 managers and workers to support flood-hit local residents in Yen Bai, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces to help them repair and rebuild their houses. Alongside, the company also provided free nutrition consultancy and milk to about 1,000 students, parents and teachers in local areas. Vinamilk has also sent its nutrition experts to the provinces to help improve the communities’ nutrition knowledge and practices to protect their health. Hoa Binh, Yen Bai and Thanh Hoa were seriously devastated by recent torrential rains and floods. The localities suffered heavy losses in both humans and property. In September, Vinamilk presented 116,000 milk packs equivalent to 1 billion VND (44,000 USD) to disaster-hit children in central Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Nghe An provinces. A month later, the firm also presented 400 million VND (17,600 USD) to poor households in Hanoi’s Chuong My and My Duc districts that experienced severe floods. Last year, Vinamilk also donated 4.6 billion VND (202,600 USD) in aid to flood-hit locals in northern and south central regions. Vietnamese students attend agricultural MSc programme in Israel Five Vietnamese students joined 13 others from India, the Philippines and African countries to begin an agricultural MSc course on November 10 at Arava International Centre for Agriculture Training (AICAT), in the south of Israel. The MSc programme, the fourth of its kind, is carried out under the cooperation between the AICAT and the Tel Aviv University (TAU).   Khuat Van Quyen, First Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel, thanked the AICAT and TAU for supporting Vietnamese students and expressed his impression on advanced technology applied in agriculture in Israel. He hoped that after the 18-month course, the Vietnamese students will acquire valuable agricultural knowledge to apply in their homeland. Professor Raanan Rein, TAU Vice Rector, said that this course is special as it is the combination of academic study and practical work. It is designed to support global food safety and security, he noted. Vietnam, China strengthen exchange of political theories Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang had a meeting in Hanoi on November 13 with President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Wang Weiguang. At the meeting, Thang congratulated the Communist Party of China (CPC) for successfully holding its 19th National Congress. He lauded the development of CPC theory which serves as a guideline for China’s socio-economic development. He also expressed delight at the new cooperation deal between the two academies, which was signed in the presence of CPC General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. Highlighting the achievements of China and Vietnam, Thang affirms socialism still has vitality. For his part, Wang expressed pleasure at the growing ties between theorists and theory research agencies of Vietnam and China. The two sides also discussed the role and significance of researching political theories, especially Marxist-Leninist, and the teaching of the theory in the two countries. Thang said that academic exchange and theory cooperation between the Parties and researchers of both sides will help deepen Vietnam-China relations.-VNA Samsung Vietnam organises largest recruitment test More than 2,200 applicants were selected from 20,000 applications to answer the Global Samsung Aptitude Test (GSAT) for the northern region held in Hanoi on November 12. The selected applicants are either engineers or holders of a bachelor’s degree. GSAT is a Samsung global capacity test for new candidates graduating from universities, and includes three main topics: mathematical ability, deductive reasoning and visual thinking. This is one of the first rounds of the recruitment procedure for graduate staff of all Samsung subsidiaries worldwide. After the GSAT, high scorers will go through interviews in December. After passing two rounds, the most outstanding and suitable candidates will become official employees of Samsung Vietnam in early 2018 and will work at seven facilities and centres, including Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen (SEVT), Samsung Electro-Mechanics Vietnam (SEMV), Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV) and Samsung Display Vietnam (SDV), as well as Samsung SDI Vietnam (SDIV), Samsung SDS Vietnam (SDSV) and SVMC. Samsung Vietnam Mobile R&D Centre (SVMC) also held its monthly contest for recruitment of programming engineers with the participation of 250 students.  SVMC also examined the Samsung Talent Programme scholarship, with a value of over 54 million VND for each student along with the opportunity to work at Samsung R&D right after graduation. The GSAT recruitment test was first organised by Samsung Vietnam in 2011 and more than 12,300 employees have been recruited through this test so far. The recruitment of a large number of university graduates is a part of Samsung’s expansion plan in Vietnam. This is an important step in the transformation of Samsung’s strategy to strengthen its leading position as the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer. Sun powers logistics system The New Port-Sóng Thần Inland Clearance Deport (ICD) company has launched the first rooftop, solar-power logistics centre in the southern province of Bình Dương. The company told Việt Nam News the renewable system, which was built in an area of over 4,000sq.m, will provide more than 748,000KWh (kilowatt per hour) per year – 30 per cent of total energy consumption of the ICD – while cutting carbon emissions by 518 tonnes each year. It said the solar power system was built with local equipment and facilities provided by the IREX Energy Joint Stock Company. According to experts from the European Union, Việt Nam has high potential for the integration of rooftop solar power production. The cost of solar power installation is lower than in countries such as the United States. The country has extensive resources to develop solar energy with technical potential estimated at 300 Gigawatt (GW). The Vietnamese Government has set ambitious targets to install 12GW of solar power by 2030. A Vietnamese expert said it needed US$2,800 for a home solar-power with a minimum capacity of 2KWp (kilowatt photovoltaic) in providing 240KWh ‘green’ energy each month. A solar-power driven lighting and sea-water filter system was developed on the Trường Sa Island and Song Tử Tây Island of Việt Nam two years ago.  Sand clogging prevents fishermen from entering sea Sand is clogging Cửa Đại Seaport in the central province of Quảng Nam’s Hội An City due to the floods over the past few days, posing difficulties for thousands of local fishermen. According to local fishermen, the incident occurred six days ago. At present, the water level at the seaport is only 1.5-2m deep, therefore, small boats and offshore fishing vessels with high capacity are not able to access it. The normal water level for ships entering from the Cửa Đại estuary is 3.5-4m. Lieutenant Colonel Trần Văn Ba, head of Cửa Đại border post, said Hội An City was deeply flooded, facilitating erosion along the coastline, which resulted in the seaport getting severely clogged. The buoy systems on the sea were washed away by the floodwaters, so boats were unable to navigate a safe path, Ba said. There are more than 1,000 boats belonging to fishermen in Hội An City, Điện Bàn Township, Duy Xuyên and Thăng Bình districts that are moored near the shore because they are unable to enter the sea. The localities have been informed of the incident. On Sunday, local authorities found the body of a fisherman named Trần Cưỡng in Điện Bàn Township. On Saturday, Cưỡng went missing while fishing in an area some 200m away from Cửa Đại Seaport. HCM City 1 struggle to beat Hà Nội 2 Defending champions HCM City 1 struggled to beat Hà Nội 2 1-0 in round 10 of the National Women’s Football Championship, held in the northern province of Nam Định yesterday. The close score was an unexpected result for the fans. Hà Nội 2 are at the bottom of the rankings with nine losses from the beginning of the event. Lê Hoài Lương helped HCM City 1 win the game in the 69th minute. With this win, HCM City 1 maintain their lead in the rankings with 27 points, followed by Phong Phú Hà Nam with 23 points and Việt Nam Coal and Mineral with 21 points. In the other game played in the northern province of Hà Nam, Hà Nội 1 crushed HCM City 2 4-0. The No 1 team dominated the game from the moment the referee blew her whistle. They proved their strength with Nguyễn Thị Huế’s early goal in the seventh minute. Then the No 1 team set up many chances to double their score, but they failed as the defenders of the No 2 team played well. However, in the 35th minute, Hồ Thị Quỳnh helped her team take the lead of 2-0. After the break, recruit Bạch Thu Hiền scored two goals more for Hà Nội 1 in the 80th and 89th minutes for a final score of 4-0. Hà Nội 1 will next face Việt Nam Coal and Mineral, while Hà Nội 2 will meet Phong Phú Hà Nam on November 16. Vietnamese sailors rescued in Philippines return home Three Vietnamese sailors, who were rescued from captivity by the Philippines army, landed at Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi on November 14. Attacked and held hostage in Philippine waters last February by Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf, the three crewmembers of the Giang Hai vessel – Bui Xuan Vien, Bui Trung Duc, and Nguyen Quang Huy – were liberated and handed over to the Philippines army unit on Tawi Tawi island on November 10. Another sailor, Nguyen Huu Truong, was also rescued but died due to illness.  The Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines took charge of the three men and the body of the deceased from November 12.  At Noi Bai airport, a representative from the Consular Department under the Foreign Ministry said Truong’s body remained in Manila, with the Vietnam Embassy working to complete paperwork to transfer him to Vietnam. NA Vice Chairman receives Cambodian Senate committee head National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu met with Chairwoman of the Cambodian Senate’s Committee for International Cooperation, Information and Communications Ty Borasy in Hanoi on November 13. Luu said that the NA and people of Vietnam are delighted at the achievements Cambodian people have gained over the years, as well as the growing ties between the two countries, especially in economy, trade and investment. He lauded efforts of the two countries in completing 84 percent of work of land border delimitation, expressing hope that the work will be finished in 2018. Lauding the outcomes of talks between delegations from the Vietnam NA’s Committee for External Relations and the Cambodian Senate’s Committee for International Cooperation, Information and Communications, he asked the two committees to strengthen communications on the implementation of agreements and cooperation programmes between the two legislative bodies. Borasy appraised the success of Vietnam in all fields, saying Vietnam’s development brings about collaboration opportunities for both countries. She expressed hope that the Vietnam NA’s Committee for External Relations and the Cambodian Senate’s Committee for International Cooperation, Information and Communications will continue fostering ties in raising public awareness on the need to implement bilateral legislative cooperation deals. She said that Vietnamese investors in Cambodia contribute to bolstering the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The same day, head of the NA Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau held talks with Borasy, during which both sides shared experience of the two committees in parliamentarian foreign relations and legislation. UBD - FPT Global Centre opens in Da Nang The UBD - FPT Global Centre, specializing in English training, opened recently in Da Nang under a collaborative effort between FPT Education and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). The center is one of two major collaborative training projects between the two parties. The opening ceremony was attended by Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and representatives from the Da Nang City People’s Committee. Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho said the event marks a new step forward in cooperation between Vietnam and Brunei, to which Da Nang is honored to contribute. He added that the city always welcomes international investors as well as cooperation projects between Vietnam and APEC economies in general and ASEAN in particular, including Brunei. As a center of economics, culture, and social affairs in central Vietnam and a tourism city, he added, Da Nang needs training for a professional foreign-language workforce, especially in English. The UBD - FPT English Centre is therefore expected to help many local residents learn English through high quality training programs for students, cadres, and civil servants. Da Nang is committed to creating the best conditions for Brunei officials and teachers to live and work in the city as well as to supporting other development projects in the future. In the Top 200 universities in Asia and the Top 50 in the world, UBD is recognized for its professional, high quality curriculum and teaching staff by many leading universities in the world. It will send teachers to the center and be responsible for the development of the curriculum and faculty members. FPT Education, meanwhile, committed to creating a truly international campus environment with advanced facilities, giving students the opportunity to learn English in a professional manner. The first course will begin tomorrow, November 14. FPT Education and UBD began official cooperation activities in July 2013. Hundreds of students from Brunei have come to Vietnam for short-term studies and internships, making Brunei one of the largest student communities at FPT. Mekong Delta needs over $5.28 billion for green growth by 2025 The Mekong Delta needs about VND120 trillion (US$5.28 billion) for public investment to ensure green growth in the phases of 2016-2020 and 2021-2025, reported the Ministry of Planning and Investment at a workshop yesterday. That workshop discussing an action plan for green growth in five Mekong Delta provinces was held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant agencies in Phu Quoc island, Kien Giang province yesterday. Capital demand is expected to reach VND105 trillion in the phase of 2016-2020. According to the ministry, the plan aims at making the Mekong Delta a motive power in socioeconomic development in association with the environment and ecosystem protection, focusing on connectivity models and limiting negative environmental impacts. At first, the plan will be implemented in five provinces namely Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu. In the upcoming time, relevant agencies will build and adjust plans to adapt to climate change, invest in infrastructure, urban and traffic development to suit climate change as per the region’s plan. Parking fee swings from VND3,000-150,000 in Tan Son Nhat Airport HCMC People’s Committee has issued Decision 6003 on parking fees at the domestic terminal of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, announced the Department of Transport yesterday.  Specifically, the parking fee is VND3,000 a bicycle and electric bicycle during the first eight hours, VND5,000 in the next eight hours and VND100,000 a month. Motorbikes and electric motorbikes pay VND6,000, VND10,000 and VND200,000 respectively. The fee for automobiles of 4-8 seater is VND30,000 during the first 90 minutes, VND10,000 an hour from the 90th minute to 24 hours, VND75,000 per 12 hours for parking more than 24 hours and VND2 million a car a month. Automobiles of 9-29 seater pay at least VND40,000 and the maximum of VND150,000 for once parking. In case of adjusting the fees to suit market situation, TCP Investment Join Stock Company must build a new fee project, send it to the Department of Finance for assessment before submitting to the city People’s Committee. Over 2,000 monks, Buddhists hold requiem for traffic accident victims Over 2,000 monks, Buddhists yesterday gathered in Vinh Nghiem pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City’s district 3 to hold a requiem for traffic accident victims in Vietnam.  The sixth event was jointly organized by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the National Committee for Traffic Safety, was to commemorate the victims and share the pain and loss with their family members. At the ceremony, Deputy Head of the Committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuong spoke of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims’ message “Remembrance for the deceased, for the sake of the living” in order to warn the tragedy of traffic, its cause and hazards in HCMC and the country. Accordingly, the event aims to raise people’s awareness of social order, traffic safety and traffic prevention. Additionally, the traffic safety board in HCMC increased information to people about traffic safety. Moreover, departments, local administrations, and schools in the city will observe minutes in Monday (November 13)’s the flag ceremony of mourning for the victims. Mr. Tuong said that for years locality authorities have made efforts to reduce traffic accidents in term of three standards; however, 3,533 traffic accidents took place in the city in ten months killing 590 and injuring 2,756 people. This warns people to value lives by obeying regulations while in streets. Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Executive Board, called for contribution of monks and Buddhists in raising residents’ awareness of traffic. On the occasion, the Safety Traffic Committee presented VND120 million to families Nguyen Trung Truc and Le Van Canh whose relatives were dead in a traffic accident in HCMC’s Can Gio District for building houses. Khuat Viet Hung, Deputy Head of the National Traffic Safety Committee, representatives from Fatherland Front Committee of Vietnam, Deputy Chairman of People’s Committee Le Van Khoa and leaders of departments and districts attended the event. Storm aftermath, Health Ministry makes efforts to fight disease Mission team led by Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien yesterday arrived in two serious storm-hit central provinces of Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen to direct disease prevention as its aftermath.  In Khanh Hoa province, Minister Tien came to two medical centers in Binh Ha and Ninh Phu communes in Van Ninh District that are seriously affected by the storm. The Health Minister shared the difficulties with the two clinics encouraging medical workers here to surmount it. She gave the two clinics each an electric generator in case that power is out.  Then she toured to the general infirmary in Ninh Hoa Commune which suffered loss of VND4.3 billion. In Phu Yen province, the mission team dropped by medical clinic An Dinh which are submerged in one week.  TheHealth Minister expressed her sympathy with medical workers who work in poor repaired facilities as the aftermath of the storm. She presented a set of computer to the clinic promising to support the construction of new clinic. Khanh Hoa health sector proposed more drugs, disinfectants and ventilators for an infirmary in Ninh Hoa Commune, XQ machine for  the Lung Hospital, Ms. Tien ordered related agencies to liaise with the Khanh Hoa health sector on the matter. She confirmed the Ministry will provide enough disinfectants following Phu Yen’s request on chemicals to fight against waterborne disease after storm. She added the Ministry would find out source to assist building new infirmary in Phu Yen. Especially, she asked the health sectors in Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen to strengthen information of disease prevention and have safe food, water. HCM City, Japan’s Mie prefecture eye ties in multiple areas HCM City and Mie Prefecture of Japan are looking for cooperation opportunities in multiple fields, heard a reception hosted by Vice Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem for governor of Mie Suzuki Eikei on November 13. Eikei was heading a delegation of about 100 officials and businessmen from Mie to visit HCM City. The number of Japanese investors doing business in HCM City has risen in recent years, Liem told his guest at the meeting, adding that city authorities have held annual meetings with business associations and investors from Japan to help them tackle problems and promote investment in the city. He vowed that the city will facilitate Japanese enterprises venturing into long-term projects to bring benefits for both sides. The official hoped Mie will exchange experience with the southern hub in tourism management and expand cultural exchanges and educational cooperation between the two sides, particularly between HCM City University of Education and Mie University. Mie governor Eikei, for his part, gave Liem an overview of the prefecture, saying it is forecast to post the highest economic growth in Japan in the future and has strengths in electronics, automobile, and seaport industries. Mie’s firms appreciate the business climate in Vietnam and HCM City and look forward to boosting economic ties and connectivity in tourism, culture and education with the city, he noted.  Irrigation system degraded after two years of use Only two years after an irrigation system worth VNĐ150 billion (US$6.6 million) was built in the southern province of Bến Tre’s Hưng Lễ Commune, it is showing signs of degradation. The Sơn Đốc 2 irrigation system, with six gates with a length of 17 metres, was put to use in June 2015. A bridge was built atop the system, with a length of 171 metres and a width of 6 metres. The work aimed at avoiding salt intrusion for more than 10,000 hectares of agricultural land in Giồng Trôm and Ba Tri districts and helped provide water for thousands of local households. The work was invested by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Irrigation Work Investment and Construction Management Board No 10.   However, after a short period of use, holes have occurred at the two gates of the irrigation system, seriously affecting work. Lý Thị Nguyên, a resident of Hưng Lễ Commune, said the work could hardly prevent salt water from flowing into crops; so local residents still suffered losses. Although the system was shut down during the saline intrusion season, salt water still flew into their crops through holes, she added. Nguyễn Công Trận, vice chairman of the communal People’s Committee, said the authorised agencies spent nearly VNĐ10 billion ($440,000) to repair holes on the third and fourth gates of the work. However, the situation has not been improved due to strong water flow. More holes have occurred on the first gate, he said, adding that the construction work showed signs of subsidence, threatening the safety of the people going via the bridge. Trận said the committee has asked the provincial authority and the ministry to find solutions. Nguyễn Văn Ngân, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the ministry has already asked the Irrigation Work Investment and Construction Management Board No 10 to repair the system.   The management board would select contractors to deal with the problem in December, he said.  VNN