Social News 7/11 Border guards destroy heroin trafficking ring    Thao In and Thao Senh (third and forth left) were caught by the Điện Biên Province Border Guards and the Laos’ Phongsaly District Security Headquarters for trafficking heroin.   The Điện Biên Province Border Guards, in co-ordination with the Laos’ Phongsaly Province’s Security Headquarter, during the early hours of Tuesday, destroyed a complex heroin trafficking ring. Thanks to an information exchange with the Phongsaly Province’s Security Headquarter and reports from local residents, the border guards are in the know about the work of several heroin traffickers in Muong Khoa District in Phongsaly Province. The main heroin traffickers were Thao In, 55, from Muong Khoa District, and Thao Tua, 34, from Bun Tay District. They are considered the main men responsible for the heroin transporting ring from Udom Xay, Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces to Phongsaly Province. They gave instructions to a number of accomplices in all the northern provinces of Laos. After collecting enough evidence, last Tuesday, the Điện Biên Province Border Guards decided to set up a trap together with the Phongsaly Province’s Security Headquarter to catch the culprits in the act. For one month, the police followed all the activities of the two main traffickers, and discovered that Thao was in direct, regular contact with Thao Senh, 28, from Udom Xay Province’s Muong Na District. The police said that Senh was the heroin supplier for In and decided to catch the two. The police caught In and Senh, red-handed, exchanging money and heroin at a hotel in Muong Khoa District. Objects of evidence included 90,000 tablets of ecstasy and 3 million Lao kip (US$360).  In and Senh admitted to the police that they had worked along with several people from Việt Nam to transport the heroin to be sold in Việt Nam. Fight against illegal sand mining to intensify A barge is caught exploiting sand illegally in Can Gio District, HCMC HCMC will join forces with five neighboring provinces to fight illegal sand mining as the unchecked problem needs a concerted effort to solve, heard a meeting on November 3. Illegal sand mining has worsened in HCMC, Tien Giang, Long An, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Dong Nai. Recent news reports said HCMC’s Can Gio District, whose mangrove forest is a world biosphere reserve, has been struck by illegal sand mining. According to Nguyen Toan Thang, director of the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment, nearly 100 illegal sand mining and transport cases were detected in Can Gio and other areas between 2015 and mid-2017. When barges and vessels are found illegally exploiting sand, they would flee to neighboring localities due to a poor coordination mechanism between provinces. At the meeting, leaders of the six localities pledged to enhance cooperation and reinforce law enforcement agencies to effectively address illegal sand mining. They suggested the Ministry of Public Security impose stricter sanctions on individuals and organizations pumping sand without licenses. Painting exhibition on Soviet Union opens in Hanoi A painting exhibition featuring the Russian October Revolution as well as the people and landscapes in difference places of the Soviet Union opened at the National Museum of Vietnamese History on November 7. The exhibition showcases 100 oil and watercolour paintings drawn by painter Tran Quan Ngoc when learning and working in the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1972. The exhibition, held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Russian October Revolution (November 7), aimed to disseminate the significance of the revolution for the revolutionary movements in the world and in Vietnam. Painter Tran Quan Ngoc, born in 1938, owns 250 paintings on the Soviet Union. Apart from the 100 paintings exhibited at the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the remaining are on display at another exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City. On this occasion, he presented four paintings to the National Museum of Vietnamese History. PM requires to inspect unspoken rules in river Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has prompted the Ministry of Public Security to work with Dong Nai and Binh Duong provincial people’s committees to inspect and ascertain unspoken rules in rivers as per press information recently. Specifically, Thanh Nien Newspaper has published information about the situation in which traffic police and waterway traffic inspectors just dropped by to take ‘small sheets’ and quickly left while inspecting boats and barges in the Dong Nai river. Mr. Phuc required the ministry to strictly handle spotted violations according to the law and report results him. In addition, the Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to inspect the information reflected in early October that waterway transport fee is higher than road, railway and marine fees party because of bribery in rivers. The issue has caused the southern region unable to exploit its potential and strength of the entangled river and canal system. according to the information. Flood damaged railway to resume operation on November 9 The North-South Railway has been damaged by Typhoon Damrey and big flooding in the central region, repair is expected to complete on November 9 to resume the entire route, said Vietnam Railways yesterday. The worst damaged stretch is from Hao Son station in Phu Yen province to Dai Lanh station in Khanh Hoa province. Vietnam Railways has mobilized hundreds of workers to repair the eroded rail track. After the route is resumed, trains will be able to travel at five kilometers an hour. During the repair time, the railway industry will continue organizing transit buses to transport passengers from Hao Son to Dai Lanh. 12 percent cooperatives provide farm produce processing, consumption services Only 12 percent of agricultural cooperatives have provided services to process and consume farm produce while the remaining ones have just supplied input services for households’ production activities. That was reported by Cooperative Development Department under the Ministry of Planning and Investment yesterday at an international workshop on agricultural cooperatives. According to the agency,  the country now has 19,569 cooperatives with over 6.2 million members. Of the number, 10,762 are agricultural cooperatives accounting for 55 percent. Most of them have just supplied input services for production activities of households. At the workshop, deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam stressed that the Cooperative Law effective since 2013 has created positive changes. Specifically, the operation efficiency of agricultural cooperatives has increased from 10 percent to 33 percent. Around 20.5 percent have operated under link chains. Still, agricultural cooperatives are facing three challenges. Firstly, they might return back to old model waiting for the state’s assistance, running after economic efficiency and forgetting their social responsibilities. The second challenge is from climate change and market pressure. The last one is the cooperatives’ internal challenge with little capital, small scale, technology shortage, leaders’ thinking and ability limitation. Joint efforts needed to help flood-hit people: Prime Minister Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked ministries, agencies and localities to join hands to help people affected by typhoon Damrey stabilise their lives, considering this an important, urgent task. At a teleconference in Hanoi on November 6 held by the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the PM expressed his deep sympathy to families of flood victims. He said resources and vehicles should be promptly mobilised in response to unexpected natural disasters, with special attention paid to people in Da Nang city and Quang Nam province in the central region, which host activities of the ongoing APEC Economic Leaders’ Week. Regarding the post-flood work, the leader urged ministries, agencies and localities to implement policies towards flood-hit residents, search for missing persons, provide medical care for the injured and prevent diseases. Under the PM’s decision, each of the flood-affected localities will receive from 100-500 tonnes of rice or more, depending on the damage they have suffered. According to the committee, the heavy toll exacted by typhoon Damrey, the 12th storm to hit Vietnam this year, continued to rise, with the number of deaths reaching 49 on November 6. The latest available update from the committee also listed 27 people as missing and at least 64 others injured since November 4, when the storm made landfall in the south-central region, its impacts spreading to the central, Central Highlands and southern regions. It said as many as 1,358 houses in Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces in the central region and the Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong collapsed. The roofs of 114,886 other houses were blown off by the typhoon’s strong winds. More than 20,000ha of crops and hundreds of kilometers of roads were damaged by the typhoon. The National Centre for Hydro meteorological Forecasting warned that inundation would continue in districts of Phu Loc, Phu Vang, Huong Tra and Hue city in Thua Thien-Hue province. In Quang Nam province, the districts of DaiLoc, Duy Xuyen, Dien Ban, Nghia Hanh, Mo Duc, Tu Nghia, Chau To town, and the cities of Quang Ngai and Hoi An would also experience continued flooding. A similar warning applied to the districts of Van Canh and Hoai Nhon, as well as Quy Nhon city in Binh Dinh province. The mountainous areas of Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces have been put on high alert of landslides. After making its landfall in Vietnam, the typhoon weakened into a tropical low-pressure system and entered Cambodia on November 6. Heavy rains were forecast in the central region, from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai provinces from November 6-8 due to impacts of a cold front combined with wind disturbances. Public servants raise funds to support storm victims The Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee on November 6 raised funds to support people in the central, Central Highlands and south central regions affected by storm Damrey. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh joined the staff at the fund-raising ceremony. Each of the public servants donated at least one-day salary to help the victims overcome the devastating consequences caused by the storm, promptly restore production and soon stabilise their lives. A similar event was held by the President’s Office the same day, during which President Tran Dai Quang called for joint efforts to assist the flood-hit people. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also responded to the fund-raising campaign held by the Offices of the NA and the Government on November 6. The same day, the Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee called for donation to help victims of the storm. After launching, the People Committee of Hai Phong city donated 12 billion VND (528,000 USD), while staff and workers of the VFF supported at least one-day salary. As of November 6 morning, typhoon Damrey, the 12th storm to hit the East Sea so far this year, left 44 people dead and 19 others missing. Low-lying areas like Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh in the central region and the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum still have to face a high risk of flooding and landslides.- Photo exhibition displays Vietnam, China’s beauty About 80 photos on the beauty of Vietnam and China and the two countries’ relations are on display at an exhibition which opened at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi on November 6. The photos not only depict the beauty of Vietnam’s and China’s nature, cultures and peoples but also reflect the two countries’ long-standing relationship, their modernity in the new era and China’s Silk Road. The event, entitled “Viet Nam Tuoi Dep – Trung Quoc Tuoi Dep”, was co-organised by the Vietnam News Agency’s Vietnam Pictorial and China Pictorial to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. Speaking at the opening ceremony, VNA Deputy Director Nguyen Hoai Duong said the two news agencies have always supported each other in their works to uphold the bilateral relations. He hoped that the exhibition would demonstrate the effective cooperation between Vietnam Pictorial and China Pictorial. The exhibition is underway until November 15. Students to compete for national football trophy The National Student Football Tournament will kick off today at the Hà Nội University of Science and Technology’s stadium. The fifth competition sees the participation of 16 teams with the best results among 60 squads that competed in the qualification. Teams will be divided in four groups and will play in a round-robin format. The first and second-placed teams will advance to the knock-out round. The final is scheduled on November 18 and will be aired live on television. The organisers will present VNĐ80 million (US$3,600) to the winners. Other prizes, including awards for outstanding players, will also be presented. Last year, Hải Phòng University beat Hải Phòng Private University 2-0 to bag the trophy. Phương beats Hsiou in Bình Dương Young Vietnamese ace Nguyễn Văn Phương defeated Hsu Yu Hsiou of Chinese Taipei in the first round of the men’s singles of the Mens’ Futures F1 tennis tournament in the southern province of Bình Dương yesterday. The 16-year-old Phương, who ranks in top 300 of the world junior rankings, crushed world junior No 13 Hsiou 6-4, 6-3. Another Vietnamese representative, Phạm Minh Tuấn, beat Kesley Stevenson of Canada 6-3, 6-0. Both national bronze medallist Phương and Tuấn  earned wild cards to compete in this tournament. In the men’s doubles, Vietnamese Lý Hoàng Nam and Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei came from behind to best Lin Wei-de of Chinese Taipei and Wan Chu Han of China 4-6, 6-3, 10-5. The duo Nam and Chen triumphed in the men’s doubles category of the Mens’ Futures F9 in Bình Dương last year. The tournament attracted the participation of 30 players from 22 countries and territories including Japan, Canada and China, competing in the men’s singles and doubles. The event will finish on November 12. Hải Dương triumph at table tennis event Hải Dương triumphed at the Double Fish table tennis tournament which concluded at Hồ Xuân Hương Gymnasium in HCM City on November 5. The team defeated An Thuận Phát 3-0 in the final to take the title in the mixed gender team event. Hải Dương’s stable includes top players like Đoàn Bá Tuấn Anh and Nguyễn Đức Tuân, who won gold medal in the men’s team at the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia in August. An Thuận Phát also have stars such as Nguyễn Anh Tú, Lê Tiến Đạt and Nguyễn Thị Nga. For winning, Hải Dương walked away with prize money of VNĐ30 million (US$1,300). The amatuer event, which attracted nearly 50 players from eight teams, aimed to develop table tennis in the country and in HCM City. It was organised by Việt Nam Modern Fare Joint Stock Company and the Việt Nam Table Tennis Federation. Linh wins title at Beer Lao event Nguyễn Thuỳ Linh of Việt Nam won the Beer Lao International Series badminton tournament, beating Benyapa Aimsaard of Thailand in the women’s singles final match in Vientiane on Sunday. Linh, the tournament No. 1 seed, beat unseeded Aimsaard 21-12, 16-21, 21-11 in a 46-minute match at the Thai-Lao Friendship Gymnasium. It is Linh’s second international title this year, earlier triumphing at a Mongolian event in June. Linh’s male teammate Phạm Cao Cường claimed the bronze medal, losing to Thai Kantawat Leelavechabutr in the men’s singles semifinals. No 4 Leelavechabutr went on to win the title, beating No. 8 Mek Narongrit, his country-fellow, 16-21, 21-12, 21-12. The Lao tournament attracted nearly 100 athletes from nine countries, vying for a total purse of US$8,000 across five categories. 3,200 children join Valuing Nature in Childhood Programme Some 3,200 children in northern Ninh Bình Province’s Nho Quan District are expected to join this school year’s Valuing Nature in Childhood Programme. The programme which was officially launched on Sunday, is being implemented by Save Việt Nam’s Wildlife. As scheduled, the children will be divided into 116 groups. They will participate in the programme until May 2018. The programme is designed to offer children a better chance to explore nature and wildlife, shape the right attitude and inculcate awareness of environment protection and forest resources from a young age. The programme has been organised for the second year in the province. With a similar agenda as last year, the kids will enjoy a full day at Cúc Phương National Park and the education centre of Save Việt Nam’s Wildlife. However, this year, schools and parents have decided to partially contribute funds to the programme. It is believed to be an important milestone, marking the commitment of schools and families in wildlife conservation and education, and bringing children closer to nature. According to the previous season’s report, the programme’s design matches a five-year-old’s development stage, the centre said. Children’s recognition rate of five specific wildlife species has improved significantly after joining the programme, especially birurong, pangolin and leopard at 79 per cent, 93 per cent and 98 per cent, respectively, the report said. The kids were also able to remember the striking feature of each species and became aware of the dangers of illegal hunting and trade or using wildlife products. President Ho Chi Minh – friend of Romania For Romanian people, President Ho Chi Minh is a big friend who laid a firm foundation for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, heard a recent workshop in the country’s capital Bucharest. The event was held to celebrate 60 years of the President’s State-level visit to Romania in August 1957 and the 67th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Romania diplomatic ties in February 1950. Speaking at the workshop themed “President Ho Chi Minh and people around the world”, Vietnamese Ambassador to Romania Tran Thanh Cong highlighted the contributions of the Vietnamese great leader to the cause of national liberation and the enhancement of friendship between Vietnam and other countries. Professor Radu Musetescu from Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies under the Department of International Economic Relations said he was impressed by Vietnam’s socio-economic accomplishments and its people’s hospitality. Meanwhile, Director of the One-up company Marius Camber described Vietnam as an attractive market to foreign investors, including those from Romania. He called on businesses of the two countries to seize investment opportunities. The workshop also screened a documentary about President Ho Chi Minh. A photo exhibition titled “President Ho Chi Minh and Romanian people” was held to introduce photos and documents on the historical visit of the President to Romania from August 17-21, 1957, as well as feature Vietnam’s protection of sea and island sovereignty in the 20th and early 21st century. Germany’s Thuringia state fosters relations with Vietnam The Minister-President of the German Federal State of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, and Trade Counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy to Germany Nguyen Huu Trang have discussed measures to intensify cooperation between the state and Vietnam. At a meeting in Berlin last weekend, Ramelow said he is impressed by Vietnam’s trade surplus with Germany. Many Vietnamese enterprises in Germany have introduced Vietnamese products in the country, contributing to the surplus, he added. Boosting collaboration with Vietnam is supported by political parties and people in Thuringia, he said, adding that the state wants to strengthen economic, training and scientific ties with Vietnam. For his part, Trang stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries’ localities, while welcoming the organisation of the Vietnam-Thuringia Business Forum in the first quarter of 2018. He took the occasion to thank the Minister-President and his administration for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Thuringia. In the first quarter of next year, the two sides will coordinate in holding the “Vietnam Day in Thuringia”, which will include the Vietnam-Thuringia Business Forum. Ramelow also plans to lead a business delegation to Vietnam in the time to come. Currently, there are about 3,000 Vietnamese people living in Thuringia. Finnish firms ready to partner Hanoi in clean water, energy sectors Finland is transferring modern technology to provide clean water and renewable energy solutions for Hanoi, Finnish Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment Petri Peltonen told a Hanoi official on November 6. At a working session with Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung, Peltonen said with the two countries’ 45-year diplomatic relationship, there are opportunities for Vietnam and Finland to enter a new stage of cooperation. Large cities play a crucial role in a country’s development, he said, noting that Finland hopes to contribute to the development of Hanoi and Vietnam by giving support in clean water supply, renewable energy development and smart city building. Highlighting similar development targets, Peltonen said Hanoi and Finland can enhance cooperation. With their experience, companies operating in the energy and environment sectors in Finland are ready to become partners of Hanoi. For his part, Vice Chairman Hung said cooperation between the two countries’ governments and between Hanoi and Finnish cities has brought encouraging outcomes. Since the 1990s, the Finland-built Mai Dich water plant has been one of the best water plants in Hanoi. However, clean water is still an urgent issue in the Vietnamese capital city, which has a population of about 10 million, he noted, adding that Hanoi is mobilising resources to ensure clean water, about 180 litres each person per day, for all residents. It is also working to end groundwater exploitation. The city welcomes investors who can provide effective clean water solutions, and it hopes for more Finnish investment, Hung said. Hanoi also wants Finnish investors to participate in waste-to-energy projects since Finland is a leading country with clean energy. About 6,000-8,000 tonnes of waste are released in the city every day, with most of it still buried. Hung noted that Hanoi is taking the first steps to turn it into a smart city, and it also looks forward to Finnish investment in this field. Proposal to increase toll fee rejected The Ministry of Transport has rejected the proposal to increase toll fee at the Build-Operation-Transfer (BOT) Bắc Thăng Long-Nội Bài toll collection station. After turning down the proposal, the Transport Ministry said on Monday the adjustment of toll fee would be considered when the company completes the project’s financial balances, solves problems related to toll taxes and adjusts the BOT contract of National Highway 2 (the transition section in Vĩnh Yên City of Vĩnh Phúc Province) as per regulations. Previously, the investor, Vietracimex 8 Company, had submited to the ministry a proposal with two options to increase toll tax at the Bắc Thăng Long-Nội Bài toll collection station. The first option was to collect fee for 19 years, starting from Janurary 2018, with rate increasing to VNĐ25,000 (US$1.1) from the current rate of VNĐ10,000 (0.44 US cent). The toll fee would continue to increase up to three times from 2021 to 2024, and up to 3.5 times to 2030. The second option was that toll fee collection would continue for 17 years, with rate increasing to VNĐ30,000 (US$1.32) from VNĐ10,000 (0.44 US cent) by 2020. Subsequently, the fee would be increased to four times by 2030. The Bắc Thăng Long-Nội Bài toll collection station was set up as per the ministry’s decision in 1997, and then in 2009 was transfered to the Vietracimex 8 Company for collecting fee to refund investment capital of the BOT project on the transition section on National Highway 2 in Vĩnh Yên City of Vĩnh Phúc Province. Thái Nguyên beat Sơn La at football championship Thái Nguyên crushed Sơn La 2-1 in the opening match of the second leg of the National Women’s Football Championship. The championship was held in the northern province of Hà Nam on Monday. In the sixth minute, receiving a pass from Lương Thị Xuyến in the left wing, Trần Mai Tuyên opened the score for Thái Nguyên. Only five minutes later, Cầm Thị Hằng suddenly levelled the score for Sơn La. Hằng’s goal was a driving force for Sơn La to play more aggressively. They stopped their rival’s attacks effectively. However, Lê Thị Thuỳ Trang helped Thái Nguyên win 2-1 in the extra time of the first half. That was also the final score of the game. In the other match, the hosts, Phong Phú Hà Nam, tied goalless with Việt Nam Coal and Mineral. Taking full advantage of playing on the home turf, Hà Nam were determined to take a win in this opening match but they met with challenges by the close defence of Việt Nam Coal and Mineral. After the break, the hosts proved their strength with many dangerous attacks. However, goalie, Khổng Thị Hằng, played outstandingly to save many losses for Việt Nam Coal and Mineral. HCM City 1 are still temporarily atop the rankings with 18 points, followed by Hà Nam with 17 points and Việt Nam Coal and Mineral with 15 points. HCM City Buddhist Sangha holds ninth congress More than 800 Buddhist dignitaries and followers gathered at the ninth Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha for the 2017-2022 tenure that opened in the city’s District 10 on November 7. Addressing the event, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Deputy Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha said that the congress is an important event marking the growth of the city’s Buddhist Sangha in the past five years. It will figure out weaknesses and problems to be tackled for the future efficient tenure. He called for constructive ideas for the sustainable development of the city’s Buddhism in the integration period. He also lauded the strong performance of the municipal Buddhist Sangha over the past 35 years through eight tenures. Meanwhile, Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang highly valued the achievements that the city Buddhist Sangha has made in all fields, including its fulfillment of both religious and social tasks and contributions to the stability and growth of Buddhism as well as the national defence and construction. Expressing hope that the Sangha will continue promoting its tradition and acting as part of the national solidarity bloc and an active member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, he suggested that the Sangha encourage dignitaries and followers to actively engage in socio-economic development movements as well as poverty reduction, environmental protection and national culture promotion. The Sangha should also focus on fighting superstition and actions aimed to harm the national unity, he said. A report at the congress showed that in the past five years, the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha made many attainments in the field of politics, culture, economy and social charity. In the next five years, it aims to develop its organization, responsibly respond to security and defence movements and educate followers to abide by the law. Participants at the congress selected an 83-member Executive Council of the municipal Buddhist Sangha for the 2017-2022 tenure, led by Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang. On the occasion, outstanding individuals and collective of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha were honoured with noble awards from the State President, the Prime Minister, the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee and the municipal People’s Committee. Earlier the same day, the Sangha inaugurated the Vietnam Quoc Tu (Vietnam National Pagoda), which is designed to become a cultural, administrative, and spiritual hub and a venue of the Sangha’s major activities in the future.      VNN