Social News 16/11 ASEAN sends aid to typhoon victims in Vietnam   Aid arriving from ASEAN arrives at Cam Ranh Airport. An aid package from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for victims of deadly typhoon Damrey arrived in the south central province of Khánh Hoà Thursday morning. An airplane from Malaysia carried the goods, including 600 sets of utensils, 3,000 sets of personal hygiene aids, 1,000 sets of house repair tools, an aluminium-clad ship and a 40 HP engine.  The goods, worth more than US$174,000, were sent by the Jakarta-based ASEAN Co-ordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, the primary regional co-ordinating agency on disaster management and emergency response. The action is based on the ASEAN spirit of “One ASEAN, one response”, agreed upon by all members last year. It calls for fast and collective response to disasters in and outside the region. Trần Quang Hoài, director of the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said it was the second time this year that ASEAN had supported disaster-hit regions in Việt Nam. “The first time was to support victims of flash floods and landslides in northern mountainous area in August.” The deadliest storm to hit Việt Nam this year reportedly killed 91 people and left 23 missing in the central and south-central regions. It also destroyed thousands of houses and farm land. The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control will work with four hardly-hit provinces, Khánh Hoà, Phú Yên, Quảng Ngãi and Bình Định, to allocate the goods. On November 9, Russia sent an aircraft carrying 40 tonnes of goods to Việt Nam. Russian President Vladimir Putin also instructed the Russian government to provide emergency aid worth $5 million. Việt Nam has also received emergency aid from other countries, including Japan, China, the United States, South Korea, and New Zealand. Typhoon Damrey leaves Khanh Hoa VND13.5 trillion damage The central province of Khanh Hoa alone suffered damage VND13.5 trillion (US$594.48 million) with the worst hit being seafood farming in the aftermath of Typhoon Damrey, making landfall in the south central region of Vietnam early this month.  That number was nearly double compared to the province’s report to the Government a week ago. The province alone has reported 44 dead, one missing and 212 injured people; 2,792 houses completely collapsed, 114,098 roofless and 1,141 boats wrecked. In addition, 29,381 hectares of farming crops have been damaged, 133,023 hectares of seafood farming area and 68,864 fish rafts swept away. Operations to remedy the typhoon’s consequences have been ongoing. So far, all students have returned to school and power supply has been resumed in many localities. Illegal shipments intercepted by customs Hà Nội Customs has confiscated more than 47 kilos of ivory tusk products and nearly eight kilos of synthetic drug illegally transported into Việt Nam in two separate cases through express postal services. The ivory tusks were seized on August 31 in two parcels sent from Germany, weighing more than 60 kilos. Customs scanning indicated the goods may have been made from animals so were sent to the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources for tests. Tests released recently showed that all the 47-kilos of the industrial goods were made from ivory. Trading, storing and transporting ivory is forbidden in Việt Nam. Violators can be fined from VNĐ5-50 million or imprisoned from six months to five years. In the other cases, customs in co-operation with anti-smuggling and anti-drug police discovered a suspicious imported parcel weighing 12.14 kilos sent from the Netherlands to Hà Nội and HCM City. The eight-kilo goods were then tested positive with 3.4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA). The police then arrested two suspects in Hà Nội and one in HCM City. The case in under further investigation. International workshop in Czech Republic spotlights East Sea issue The Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies (CIPS) under the Metropolitan University Prague recently held a workshop on security in Asia in the Czech Republic. More than 60 researchers from universities of the Czech Republic, Austria, the UK, Romania and India attended the event. Takashi Hosoda, a lecturer from the Czech Republic’s Charles University, underlined the value of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling in July 2016, especially the rejection of China’s unreasonable “nine-dash line” in the East Sea. He said respecting and implementing the PCA’s ruling as well as international law plays a significant role in addressing regional disputes. Hosoda also suggested using diplomatic measures and promoting the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and cooperation mechanisms with the bloc to ensure mutual economic benefits, peace and stability in the region. Director of the CIPS Maria Strasakova talked Vietnam’s policies in maintaining cooperative ties with China, affirming this is politically and economically important to both countries. Participants showed interest in discussions of issues relating to developments and prospects to address disputes in the East Sea. Vietnam a priority in Algeria’s economic development policies Vietnam is always a priority in Algeria’s policy of developing economic-trade relations in Southeast Asia, Algerian Minister of Trade Mohamed Benmeradi said while receiving Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Pham Quoc Tru and Trade Counselor Hoang Duc Nhuan on November 14. Benmeradi said Algeria wants to elevate bilateral trade ties to the same level as their sound political relations.  He added that Algeria is diversifying its economy to avoid dependence on oil and gas. In 2018, the Algerian government will consider removing its wood import ban. To promote bilateral trade, the two sides agreed to continue improving legal frameworks, re-negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement (inked in 1994), and facilitate businesses’ operations. They decided to increase trade promotion activities, enable enterprises to partake in trade events in their respective countries, and inform each other about changes in new policies and trade measures. Vietnam and Algeria also agreed to set up cooperative ties in the banking sector and build a coordination mechanism to help businesses address trade disputes. The aforesaid plans will be debated at the inter-governmental committee’s meeting, scheduled to take place in Algiers later this month. Ambassador Tru said Vietnam exported 241 million USD worth of goods to Algeria in the first ten months of 2017, a year-on-year rise of 6.8 percent. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, two-way trade increased 17 percent to reach 273.6 million USD in 2016, with Vietnam exporting 271 million USD worth of goods. VSS to cut social insurance debt to under 3 percent The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) hopes to reduce social insurance debt to below 3 percent of its full-year collection plan for this year, heard a conference held in Hanoi on November 15. According to Nguyen Tri Dai, head of the collection department at the VSS, by the end of October, compulsory social insurance and voluntary social insurance collection have failed to reach targets, hitting 95.2 percent and 58.9 percent respectively. He also said unpaid social insurance premiums reached 16.6 trillion VND (731 million USD) by end of October, accounting for 6.3 percent of the full-year collection plan. He said that of the 16.6 trillion VND, a large portion had been owed for less than six months, with social insurance making up 7.3 trillion VND and unpaid health insurance 1.5 trillion VND. Dai attributed the huge insurance debt to poor compliance with social insurance regulations by enterprises and insurance agencies. Some agencies do not report debt to local governments. The VSS will take measures to cut social insurance debt owed by businesses to slash the insurance debt ratio to below 3 percent of the plan in the last months of this year, he said. Social insurance agencies in provinces were asked to collect from enterprises that have not paid for less than six months and work with law enforcement agencies to inspect those that have owed insurance for more than six months. Tran Dinh Lieu, Deputy General Director of VSS said as of October 31, provincial social insurance agencies had conducted 2,328 inspections on the collection of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance, with few results. Lieu said suing businesses owing social insurance premiums is a measure to reduce debt. According to the Social Insurance Law, Labour Code and Civil Law, firms owing social insurance premiums can be taken to court, but suing businesses on the brink of bankruptcy has been problematic, with even successful lawsuits unlikely to yield payment. The VSS is working with agencies to set up a decree which detailed the inspections as well as punishment on businesses who failed to obey insurance regulations to protect the interests of labourers. Cases will be referred to the police and settled in accordance with the law, he said. Lao Deputy PM lauds Vietnam home affairs ministry’s support Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonesay Siphandone has spoken highly of cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao ministries of home affairs as well as the Vietnamese side’s effective support and assistance, especially in training human resources. At a reception for a visiting delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Home Affairs led by its Deputy Minister Nguyen Duy Thang in Vientiane on November 15, the Deputy PM underlined that the two ministries should enhance their collaboration to better fulfill assigned tasks as they are important agencies for the operation of the State apparatus. He hailed the visit by the Vietnamese delegation, saying that it took place amid celebrations of the Viet Nam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year, the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic ties and 40 years of the signing of the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation Agreement between the two nations. The visit will contribute to fostering the traditional friendship between the two nations in general and the two ministries in particular, he affirmed. Over the past years, the two ministries have cooperated in exchanging information and experience in issues related to state and local administration, administrative border, civil servants, emulation and reward, religion and archives, according to Thang. The Vietnamese ministry has held numerous workshops and experience exchanges while offering short-term training courses for Lao officials, he said. In the future, the two sides will continue their cooperation in multiple fields, including the exchange of delegations, information and experience in related areas, he added. Party chief attends great national unity festival in Hai Phong Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended the festival of great national unity in Thuong Dien cultural village in Vinh Quang commune, Vinh Bao district, the northern city of Hai Phong on November 15.  The event was meant to celebrate the 87th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) (November 18).  Together with local residents, the Party chief reviewed the glorious tradition of the VFF since its establishment, lauding its great role in gathering patriotic forces, classes, ethnic groups, religions and people from all walks of life in the fight against invaders and the national construction and defence.  He praised the VFF for initiating the event to uphold the spirit of solidarity among the public.  The leader expressed wish that the entire Party, people and army would stand united under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the direction of the government to build a prosperous, democratic, equitable and civilised country.  Tran Van Pha, Secretary of the Party Committee and head of the Front Committee of Thuong Dien village said the average income per capita in the locality reaches 36 million VND (1,600 USD) per year, up 9.1 percent from 2016. The rate of poor households under multi-dimension standard was reduced to 2.9 percent last year.  On the occasion, the Party chief presented gifts to six poor households in the village.  Earlier, he offered incense and planted a tree at a temple dedicated to cultural celebrity Nguyen Binh Khiem in Ly Hoc commune, Vinh Bao district. Disabled people in Quang Binh receive wheelchairs The Lawrence S. Ting Memorial Fund and the Child Protection Fund of the central province of Quang Binh on November 14 presented 96 wheelchairs to people with disabilities across the province. Speaking at the ceremony, Phan Chanh Duong, Director of the Lawrence S. Ting Fund, said the organisation has handed over nearly 19,500 wheelchairs to disabled people nationwide.  This is the fourth time it has sent wheelchairs to people in Quang Binh, bringing the total number of wheelchairs given to the province to 700, he added.  Nguyen Tien Hoang, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, voiced his hope that the organisation will continue to support disadvantaged people of Vietnam and Quang Binh province in particular. Hai Phong port city asked to envisage future development The northern port city of Hai Phong needs to regularly review its development master plan and envisage how it will be in the next 10-20 years in order to take supplementary moves in a firm, step-by-step manner, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong has told local authorities. At a working session on November 15 in Hai Phong, the Party leader said the city boasts a lot of advantages and plays a significant position in the north. He recognised its achievements in economic restructuring and new rural building. However, Hai Phong should fully tap its potential to grow vigorously and map out what to do in the three-year or five-year periods. He emphasized the Party building and reorganisation as a key task, which relates to not only millions of Party members but also the whole political system, State apparatus, personnel work, and working lifestyle. The prevention of corruption and negative phenomena must be conducted completely, drastically and persistently to create remarkable changes, he stressed. Meanwhile, international integration, industrialisation and urbanisation must go with cultural preservation and promotion of great national unity, resilience, and creativity, he said. He asked Hai Phong to reform growth models and promote investment attraction to take the lead in the country’s “Doi moi” (renewal) process. Earlier on November 14, the Party leader visited the VINFAST automobile manufacturing complex and Dinh Vu-Cat Hai sea bridge - part of Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway - the longest sea bridge in Southeast Asia. According to Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) expands by 12.73 percent per year, higher than the yearly target of 10.5 percent. The export turnover is expected to grow by more than 22 percent in 2017 and hit 12 billion USD by 2020. The budget collection across the city is estimated at 71 trillion VND (3.12 billion USD) in 2017, up 26.22 percent against the previous year, while the total social investment is projected to reach nearly 68 trillion VND (2.99 billion USD). At the end of this year, the city strives to have 74 new rural communes, making up over 53 percent of the total communes. By 2019, all communes are hoped to gain this status. Flyover branch near HCM City airport opens to traffic The second branch of the N-shaped flyover at the Nguyễn Thái Sơn-Nguyễn Kiệm roundabout in Gò Vấp District near HCM City’s Tân Sơn Nhất airport opened to traffic today. The 367m-flyover branch, which connects Nguyễn Kiệm and Hoàng Minh Giám streets, will help ease traffic congestion at Việt Nam’s busiest airport. The flyover, which costs VNĐ504 billion ($22.17 million), will have three branches when fully finished: connecting Hoàng Minh Giám Street to Nguyễn Thái Sơn Street; Nguyễn Kiệm to Nguyễn Thái Sơn; and Nguyễn Kiệm to Hoàng Minh Giám. In July, vehicles were allowed to use the first branch which connects Hoàng Minh Giám and Nguyễn Thái Sơn streets. After land clearance is completed, the construction of the last branch of the flyover will take about three months, according to the city’s Transport Department’s Urban Traffic Management Unit No. 3. Crowded public hospital gets more beds, new building The District 2 Hospital in HCM City yesterday inaugurated an eight-storey building with 110 beds that increases its capacity to 560 beds. The 4,642sq.m building on Lê Văn Thịnh Street cost nearly VNĐ170 billion (US$7.5 million), according to Dr Trần Văn Khanh, the hospital’s head. A steady increase in demand from locals and people in neighbouring areas meant the hospital was operating at 110 per cent, he said, adding that 593,511 patients were treated in the first nine months of this year. The hospital has also acquired advanced equipment. At the inaugural ceremony the hospital signed training agreements with Chợ Rẫy Hospital and University Medical Centre, two of the city’s premier public hospitals, to improve its quality. Students asked to donate VNĐ1,000 for poor classmates A two-year-old campaign in schools in the northern province of Ninh Bình which called on each student to donate at least VNĐ1,000 has helped build eight houses for poor students worth total VNĐ500 million (US$22,000). Head of the organisation, Trịnh Như Lâm said that the “VNĐ1,000 for Red Scarf Houses” campaign that was launched by the province’s HCM Young Pioneer Organisation last year was welcomed by students, their families, local authorities, civil organisations and companies. Lâm said that the campaign aimed to mobilise resources to help families, particularly those unable to afford housing. The donation was used to build or improve housing for poor families of students who overcame their difficulties to study well. “The houses are considered gifts to encourage the students to go to school and study,” he said. Schools and teachers have paid much attention to students’ conditions in order to offer timely support. An eight-grader, Nguyễn Trung Chiến of Gia Sinh Secondary School in northern province of Ninh Bình, held his mother’s hand at the ground breaking for their new house early this month under the campaign “VNĐ 1,000 for Red Scarf Houses”. Chiến, who lost his left arm, lives with his mother who suffers from Cirrhosis. They struggle to make ends meet, and Chiến said he hardly asked his mother for a snack or for new clothes. “Money must be saved to treat mom’s illness,” he said. Chiến and his mother are too poor to afford a house. They are living in his grandparents’ house - a rundown roofed house. At school, Chiến performs well and at home, after finishing his homework, he does all the housework including cooking and herding a cow, all to reduce the burden on his mother. Chiến said that he liked maths the most and he has many dreams. Now, he wants his mother to be cured. He said that he will keep studying to get a good job and support her. His mother said that without aid from his school and donators, she could never have dreamed of a new house. The house of about 60sq.m is expected to be completed early next year. At the ground breaking ceremony, the youth union of Gia Viễn District gave Chiến’s family two tonnes of cement and the union members from communes including Gia Sinh, Gia Minh, Gia Phong, Gia Lạc and Gia Trung worked to speed up the construction. Another beneficiary, Phạm Thị Lan Trang, studying in the eighth grade of Khánh Công Secondary School, said that she was very happy to live in a new house that was much better than her old one. “For the first time, I have a bright clean corner for studying at home,” she said. Trang’s father suffers from a mental disorder and she said that her father’s health had improved after moving into the new house. “I wish the campaign could help more poor students,” she said. Cửa Đạt reservoir threatened by erosion Recent heavy rains and strong winds have caused serious erosion to hundreds of metres of Cửa Đạt reservoir’s strong dam in the central province of Thanh Hóa. The reservoir’s wall and sluice gate to the left have been damaged by large concrete blocks, Dân Trí website reported.  According to the report of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, due to the impact of typhoon Doksuri - the year’s 10th storm over the East Sea, nearly 400m of the concrete dam has been severely eroded, making the reservoir unsafe. The provincial People’s Committee has reported the incident to the Government, seeking funding for urgent repairs.  Sông Chu One Member Limited Company has been asked to inspect and monitor the erosion, and build a forbidden signal against entering. It also needs a special inspection by experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to evaluate the overall situation of embankment erosion in order to ensure stability of the reservoir in discharging water in cases of emergency. Cửa Đạt reservoir has been in use from November 2010 and is the largest hydropower and irrigation construction of the country with a capacity of 1.5 billion cubic metres. It was built in Thường Xuân District’s Xuân Mỹ Commune, with VNĐ7 trillion (US$311 million). The reservoir has contributed to flood control in the downstream of Chu River, ensuring sufficient supply of water for more than 86,000 hectares of agricultural land, supplying water for domestic use and for industrial use. Television reports competition on cigarette prevention launched A television broadcast competition on the topic of cigarette harm prevention and control was launched on Wednesday in Hà Nội by the Ministry of Information and Communications. The competition aims at improving education on cigarette smoking effects and encouraging reporters and television programme producers to enthusiastically participate in education activities to prevent cigarette harm. Television programmes in Vietnamese or those that have Vietnamese subtitles on cigarette smoking effects, prevention and control that were broadcast on different channels this year can join the competition. The competition organiser will award one first prize of VNĐ15 million (US$660), three second prizes of VNĐ13 million ($570) each, four third prizes of VNĐ10 million ($440) each and five encouragement prizes of VNĐ7 million ($310) each.  Besides this, the organiser will present one first prize and two second prizes for outstanding teams with prizes worth VNĐ20 million ($880) and VNĐ17 million ($750) each, respectively. Submissions for the competition can be sent to the Ministry of Information and Communications at No 18 Nguyễn Du Street in Hà Nội’s Hai Bà Trưng District by the end of January next year at the latest. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Hoàng Vĩnh Bảo said the organiser hoped that the competition would be a motivation for reporters and editors to make more television news and programmes on the issue to change awareness and behaviour of the whole society on how cigarette smoking harms people’s health and the economy. Hanoi smashes trans-border drug smuggling via postal services Hanoi’s customs officers in collaboration with forces from the Ministry of Public Security have busted a drug trafficking ring using express postal services. As part of the raid, three suspects and 26,700 ecstasy pills were seized on November 15. The drug ring was on the police’s radar as suspicions arose from a box imported from the Netherlands to Vietnam. After examination, officers found it contained nine plastic coffee bags, which were filled with blue pills. The pills were found to be synthetic drugs. When three suspects, one from Ho Chi Minh City and two from Hanoi, came to retrieve the box, they were arrested. Further investigation is underway. APEC 2017: Jakarta Post praises Vietnam’s role The Jakarta Post has published an article lauding Vietnam’s position following the country’s hosting of the APEC Year 2017. The article stressed that the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang was a success, adding that Vietnam made efforts to secure the event by deploying 2,800 security officers.  All APEC member economies, including Indonesia, were in favour of Vietnam’s APEC theme and initiatives on economic integration, it said. It noted that the Vietnamese economy is thriving, with exports recording continuous growth. The country has attracted a large amount of foreign capital thanks to its commitments to free trade, globalisation and economic reform. The paper said Vietnam is undergoing a transformation from an agricultural country to an export-oriented economy and a country of industrialisation and modernisation. The nation’s progress in poverty alleviation has been shown in the reduction of poverty rate from 58.1 percent in 1993 to 7 percent in 2015. The article concluded that Vietnam is emerging as a global investor and a ‘new star’ in Asia. Vietnam triumphs at SEA age group swimming champs Vietnam topped the Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championship, which concluded at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex Swimming Pool in Brunei on November 12. Vietnam earned a total of 51 gold medals, 27 silvers and 13 bronzes to take the lead in the medal tally. On the last day of competition, Vietnamese swimmers bagged 19 gold medals, six silvers and six bronzes. This year’s event attracted the participation of 235 swimmers from nine countries. They competed in three age groups of 13 and under, 14-15 and 16-18. Vietnam sent a total of 27 swimmers to the three-day meet including 15 males and 12 females. The youngest member from the Vietnamese team was aged 13. Notably, 15-year-old Nguyen Huu Kim Son set a new record with a time of 3:56.46s in the boys’ 14-15 400m freestyle, eclipsing the old time of 4:01.01s set by his compatriot Nguyen Huy Hoang in December 2015. Son also made a new SEA Age Group record after clocking a time of 2:06.47s in the 200m medley category, surpassing a five-year record of 2:06.50s previously set by his compatriot Tran Duy Khoi in June 2012. At the same event held last year, Vietnam also triumphed with 39 gold medals, 39 silvers and 27 bronzes. 3,000 join Olympic 2030 sporting event Around 3,000 people are attending the third Olympic 2030 sporting event for Vietnamese entrepreneurs, double the figure of last year. During the event until December 3, the contestants will compete in 15 sports, including football, table tennis, badminton, swimming, bowling, billiards, Chinese chess, futsal, golf, cycling, mountain bike racing, off-road racing and tennis. Organized by the 2030 Businessmen Club under the Saigon Times Club, the annual sporting event is aimed at creating a playground for entrepreneurs to improve physical fitness and build business links. This year’s event has received support from many local businesses such as Long Hoang Security Services, An Cuong Wood Working JSC, Thang Loi Group, U.S. Investment Services Company and Goli Garment Co Ltd.   Miss Vietnam World 2014 Bui Thi Ha is the ambassador of the sporting event. As part of the event, a photo contest and a sportwear costume show will be held. Work begins on HCMC’s largest water pipeline project Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco) today starts work on a project for designing, providing and installing a 10-kilometer fresh water pipeline – the longest in HCMC, according to a Thanh Nien newspaper report. This is the largest construction item of a project intended to reduce water loss, expand the water supply network citywide, and support Sawaco in the 2011-2015 period. The project costs US$154 million, including an official development assistance (ODA) loan of US$138 million from the Asian Development Bank, US$13 million from the State budget and the remainder from Sawaco. The project is implemented by Sawaco and France’s consortium comprising VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Bessac CW1, and is scheduled for completion within three years and a half. The pipeline which has a diameter of 2.4 meters will pass from Binh Thai Intersection in District 9 to an intersection between Dien Bien Phu and Nguyen Binh Khiem streets. Sawaco will receive water from water plants, and will improve service quality in water supply for more than half of local residents. Fresh water suppliers in HCMC have a total treatment capacity of over two million cubic meters a day. Tan Hiep, Thu Duc 1, 2 and 3, BOO Thu Duc and Kenh Dong are the city’s major water plants. Southeastern seaport exploitation shows many problems Many problems in planning and exploiting seaports in Group 5 in the southeastern region were pointed out at a conference hosted by the Ministry of Transport yesterday.  Statistics from 2016 show that general and container ports in Cai Mep-Thi Vai area handled about 40.9 million tons of cargo reaching 45 percent of design capacity. Container goods reached 2.03 million TEU, increasing 50 percent compared to the same period last year but accounting for only 30 percent of their capacity. In HCMC, Cat Lai container terminal has increasingly been overloaded and caused badly traffic jam while other container ports have operated at only 5-21 percent of their capacity. Macro solutions regulating cargo volume among seaports in the group has been short so goods has mainly streamed to HCMC. Cargo services and seaport connectivity has been asynchronous. The Ministry of Transport has said it would not license new container ports in the group but it would speed up seaport removal, intensify connectivity, develop logistics service, improve polices and better administrative reform from now until 2020. According to reports by Vietnam Marine Administration, seaports in Group 5 play the leading role in six groups nationwide, handling about 45 percent of cargo volume and 60 percent of containers through Vietnamese seaport system annually. For the last past, the Government and ministries have paid attention to investing in infrastructure structure for the group. However seaport development process has raised some problems affecting investment and exploitation efficiency. The Ministry of Transport has established a project to improve the efficiency of seaports in Group 5 and wharfs in Cai Mep-Thi Vai area. The project has been approved by the Prime Minister. Afterwards the ministry has instructed relevant sides to review and adjust the detail plan for the southeastern seaports by 2020 with visions till 2030. The plan adjustment is towards slowing down the progress of building new seaports in the group and focusing on expanding general and container ports to maximize the capacity of existing seaports. Since 2013, HCMC, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Dong Nai People’s Committees have worked with the Ministry of Transport to not build new seaports; expand container and general ports to share pressure for overloaded seaports. The ministry has drastically required relevant sides to remove wharfs from the Saigon river and Ba Son shipyard. In addition, the project has implemented solutions about seaport connectivity intensification, service price policies and administrative reform and gained positive changes. HCM City leaders congratulate senior teachers Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders went around town this morning congratulating and praising senior teachers for the Vietnamese Teacher Day (November 20). On behalf of the city authorities, Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Vo Thi Dung had a meeting with 80 year old Professor Cao Minh Thi , former director of the Department of Education and Training. Though he sits on the wheelchair, he still gives his whole mind to scientific research especially in nano technology field. Lately, he and his partners released a book on nanotechnology aiming to bring knowledge of the technology to every people simply especially students in high schools. Ms. Dung sent her congratulation to the professor express her gratitude to his contribution to the education sector. Later, she presented flower and congratulated Professor Nguyen Tan Phat, former education deputy minister and former director of Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City expecting him to continue devote to the education sector generally and the university particularly. Kien Giang invests VND 60 bln in Phu Quoc - Tho Chau ship route Passenger ship on Phu Quoc - Tho Chau route has just been put into the operation from Phu Quoc Island to Tho Chau Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang and vice versa, said Vice Director of the Provincial Transport Department Le Viet Bac yesterday. Accordingly, the high- speed ship departs from Bai Vong Port, Ham Ninh commune, Phu Quoc district.  The Phu Quoc No.9 ship was designed with a length of 36.5 meters and width of six meters, speed 24 nautical miles an hour, with total investment capital of around VND 60 billion. It is able to carry 120 passengers. The ship runs every five days and trip duration is about 3.5- 4 hours. VNN