Social News In Brief 15/5 Police must have plan to protect “street knights”   Chairman Phong visits a street knight in the hospital In a tour to People’s 115 hospital to visit “street guardians" who were stabbed while trying to stop a gang of four robbers from stealing an expensive scooter, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong today stressed police in the city must have plan to protect “street knights”. Chairman Phong added that it is needed to protect these men who are ready to sacrifice for the city people’s safety and property. The ‘street knights’ yesterday followed the gang of robbers from Tan Binh District to district 3 where they stopped in front of the store and started to steal an SH scooter parked there. Being chased by the street guardians, the gang of robbers took out weapons to aggressively fight back. Consequently, two men died and three men were seriously wounded. Hospital deputy director Dr. Bui Minh Trang said that the hospital admitted three men who were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Forty-two year old Nguyen Van Thoi and 29 year old Nguyen Hoang Nam had wound in their heart and their body turned blue. Despite doctors’ efforts to save him, they succumbed to the wound. Fifty year old man Tran Van Hoang was also taken to the hospital with multiple injuries with his gut hanging out. Surgeons of inter- departments in the hospital worked together to save him. Three men live in Tan Binh District and are ‘street guardian’ group which voluntarily patrol their neighborhoods to detect and catch criminals who try to take away people’s asset. Additionally, two 22-year-old students joining in the fight against the thieves were fatally injured by slash. Grateful for their chivalrous deed of the street guardians, Chairman Phong requested police force to seek for a gang of four robbers and hospitals to take care of wounded knights. Vietnamese contemporary paintings exhibited in Algeria      An exhibition showcasing paintings by a Vietnamese artist is being organised for the first time in Algeria from May 13-14 by the Vietnamese Embassy in the country in collaboration with the Algerian Ministry of Culture. The exhibition is one of the activities held in the framework of the cultural exchange and cooperation programme between Vietnam and Algeria.  Oil painting works by Vietnamese painter Nguyen Minh Son displayed at the exhibition help introduce natural landscapes across Vietnam to local viewers, including those spotlighting the beauty of Hoi An ancient city in central Quang Nam province, Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh northeastern province, and Sword Lake in capital city of Hanoi.  In his speech at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Pham Quoc Tru highlighted the significance of the event, saying that it aims to promote the painting art of Vietnam, especially modern paintings.  The activity is hoped to help locals get insights into Vietnam’s culture and people, thus contributing to enhancing the Vietnam-Algeria relationship and the friendship between the Vietnamese and Algerian people, he stressed. Youngsters make fortune on agriculture Given the high unemployment rate among urban youngsters, Youth Unions in some localities have taken various measures in order to address the issue. Safe vegetables farms in the South Central Coastal province of Quang Ngai are among those initiatives. Realising the locality’s high unemployment rate and leftover farming land, Đức Chánh communal Youth Union in Quang Ngai province in early 2016 asked the local authorities to deploy safe vegetables farms. Having gained the necessary approval, the Union managed to gather 20 local youngsters and raise sufficient fund to kick off the project. According to Vo Ngoc Nam, Project Manager, the area was originally allocated for rice farming but it was ineffective. He and his companions saw the land’s untapped potential and asked the locality change it into vegetable farming. Then they called for the help of local youngsters. It has been three years and we are thinking of expanding the model. The project has proved effective as it makes use of the local unemployed youngsters’ spare time while earning them quite a deal. The initiative was recognised with a prestigious award by the Central Youth Union in 2017. Nguyen Van Lam, Secretary of Duc Chanh Communal Youth Union, Mo Duc district, Quang Ngai province told reporters: "The local idle labour force accounts for a large number so we came up with the idea of agricultural restructuring. When carrying out the project, technical issue is also a challenge. The local agricultural promotion centre also helps by organising frequent technical training classes." Besides the local Youth Union, some individuals have also run their own business of vegetables farming and gained positive achievements. Le Thi Dat is among such people. Overcoming numerous difficulties at first, now she has a veggie farm of over 5 hectares with more than 20 species. Also her products have received positive feedbacks from customers. Dat said: "Chronic diseases are common now partly because of unsafe food. So, hygienic vegetables are winning customers. We are planning to open chain stores selling clean vegetables under farm-to-store model so that customers can completely have faith on our products." According to Tran Van Man, Chairman of Mo Duc district People’s Committee,Quang Ngai province, there have been lots of projects on clean vegetables by youngsters in Mo Duc district in recent years. They are well educated, innovative and bold so they succeeded. He also pledged to create the most favorable conditions for them to develop. As start-up movement has been promoted in recent time, many youngsters have taken advantage of their localities’ conditions and made a fortune. Quang Ngai province is now home to 80 economic models owned by youngsters with average income of over 3,000 USD a year. National vocational contest honours skilled workers   Contestants at the 9th National Skills Competition in 2016   Contestants from across Vietnam are showing off their vocational skills in 26 professions at the ongoing 10th National Skills Competition.  As many as 520 competitors in 56 teams from ministries, sectors and localities nationwide registered to participate in the biennial event, which are being organised in Hanoi and the northern province of Ha Nam from May 13-20.  The activity aims to honour young workers with high vocational skills, and encourage emulation movements in enterprises and vocational training institutions, thus improving the quality of young labourers and increasing labour productivity.  The competitors will compete in 24 official professions including electro mechanics, mechanical technical design; welding; industrial automation; mobile robotics; electronics, hi-tech machine maintenance; website designing; IT software solutions; graphic design, fashion technology; automobile technology; hairstyling; cooking; restaurant services and civil carpentry. Demonstrations will be held for two other professions which are automobile paint and Internet of Things. The three best performers at the event will be awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals, while all contestants will receive certificates from the organising board.  The most excellent contestants will represent Vietnam at the 12th ASEAN Skills Competition in Thailand from August 26 - September 4, 2018 and the 44th World Skills Competition in Russia from August 22-27, 2018. Vietnamese language class opens in Algeria   The Vietnamese language class held at the Embassy of Vietnam in Algiers, Algeria   A Vietnamese language class opened at the Embassy of Vietnam in Algeria’s capital city of Algiers on May 12, meeting the demand to learn the language and explore Vietnamese culture of students in Algiers and neighbouring localities.  The language class, taught by staff members of the embassy, attracts about 30 learners aged 10-50, including members from one family.  In his opening remark, Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Pham Quoc Tru said the class aims to help children of overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Algeria and students learning Vietnamese martial arts in the country speak the language and understand more about Vietnamese culture, spirit and martial arts.  He also voiced his hope that the class will strengthen the bond between the Vietnamese community and Algerian people who love Vietnam. Moluk, Vice President of the Vietnamese traditional martial arts Son Long Quyen Thuat league in Algeria, also a student of the class, said the Vietnamese language and traditional martial arts will bring people of Vietnam and Algeria closer. A student of the class, Serine Rahile, 20, is attending the class along with her two siblings. They are among the third generation of OVs in Algeria and currently living in Boufarik province, more than 30km away from Algiers.  Rahile expressed her hope that thanks to the class, she will be able to speak the language with her relatives in Vietnam and Vietnamese people in Algeria. Deputy PM orders probe into traffic accident   Representatives of the National Committee for Traffic Safety visit a victim yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình has ordered chairman of the People’s Committee of Khánh Hòa Province to quickly investigate the cause of an traffic accident that killed two people and injured 21 others on Saturday morning. The accident occurred when a coach, carrying 31 people, was travelling on a stretch of National Highway No 27C, running through Khánh Lê Pass in the province’s Vĩnh Khánh District. The passengers were retired civil servants from northern Yên Bái Province, on a vacation trip. Under initial investigation, the coach driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while driving through the pass, causing the coach to overturn. Local police are conducting further investigations. The victims were taken to Khánh Hòa General Hospital for treatment. Bình, chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, also sent his condolences to the victims’ families. The committee yesterday visited and gave VNĐ5 million (US$220) to each dead victim’s family and VNĐ3 million ($132) to each injured victim’s family. Police arrest two in huge heroin bust   The bricks of heroin displayed at the police station. Police in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai have arrested two suspects and seized 329 bricks of heroin, worth over VNĐ69 billion (US$3 million). The police said the two suspects were arrested while driving their car loaded with the heroin on Friday afternoon in Nậm Pản Village of Mường Khương District. The two suspects admitted that they were transporting the drugs from the central province of Nghệ An to sell in Lào Cai. Colonel Đinh Tiến Quân, director of Lào Cai Police Department, said this is the biggest heroin bust they have dealt with. Police are investigating the case. Junior Kendo Tourney to be held in City   The 4th RMIT Việt Nam Junior Kendo Tournament will be held at RMIT Saigon South Kendo Club from 3pm to 6pm on May 19-20 in 702 Nguyễn Văn Linh Str, District 7. Established in 2015, the tournament offers young kenshi a fair competition so they can learn and express their skills in the best environment. It also offers roles as referees to the more experienced. Bình Dương Province and Penang to promote tourism   Hội Khánh Pagoda is one of the most attractive destinations in Bình Dương Province. Photo from dulichbinhduong.org.vn  Vietnamese and Malaysian scholars have predicted an increase in tourism between Bình Dương Province and Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Malaysia, following a conference held in the province on Saturday. The conference was organised by the province’s Thủ Dầu Một University and the University of Science in Malaysia. Professor Badaruddin Mohamed, who manages the Tourism Research Circle unit at the School of Housing, Building and Planning at the University of Science, said that city tourism would be promoted through bilateral understanding of culture and communities. Malaysian participants at the event described the special traits of Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including traditional craft villages, entertainment zones, and Muslim architecture and community. They also provided information to local tourism authorities and agencies on how to welcome Muslim tourists, mostly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Middle East. In 2017, Việt Nam welcomed more than 400,000 visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The tourists prefer to visit the Mekong Delta and HCM City. However, Bình Dương, despite being only 30 kilometres from HCM City, has attracted a small number of Muslim tourists. Professor Nguyễn Văn Hiệp, council chairman of Thủ Dầu Một University, said: “Bình Dương is part of the Southern Focal Economic Zone and is becoming a rapidly growing city in the southeast region of Việt Nam. In 2018, the province ranked No 2 in foreign direct investment.” Although the province’s economy is strong, its culture, education, health, and tourism sectors have not developed as quickly, he said, adding that in 2017, only 200,000 foreign tourists visited Bình Dương. At the conference, Vietnamese participants presented information about Bình Dương to Malaysian delegates, including its Buddhism architecture, craft villages and fruit gardens. The event also included a signing ceremony between the Tourism Research Circle unit and Thủ Dầu Một’s Strategic Development Institute on cooperation in scientific research, event organising, and scientific book publishing. Seminar talks ways to preserve folk music of northern minorities   Teaching and studying ethnic music is one of the best ways to preserve its traditions, a seminar has heard.  The scientific seminar took place in the northern mountain province of Điện Biên on Thursday. It is part of a grand plan to preserve and uphold values of the folk music of Vietnamese ethnic minorities up to 2020. One suggestion was to raise awareness by teaching people to play instruments and offering incentives to artists who preserve the music around the country. Co-hosted by the Việt Nam National Academy of Music (VNAM) and the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event is aimed at assessing and recognising the values of traditional musical heritages and process of implementation of policies supporting the preservation of folk music of ethnic minorities in the region. It was also a chance for management authority officials at local levels to intensify their work of management and development in the sector of traditional culture in the northern mountain areas. Cultural authorities heard opinions of experts, scientists, researchers and folk music artists on various related issues in preserving the values of traditional musical heritages in the areas. Nguyễn Thuỷ Tiên, a representative of VNAM, said the academy had collected and recorded various genres of folk music of ethnic minorities in the northern mountainous region over the past two decades.  In particular, at the seminar, researchers and cultural artisans from Điện Biên, Lai Châu, Hòa Bình, Cao Bằng provinces talked about socio-cultural and artistic values of folk music genres in the region, their role in the spiritual lives, and measures to preserve and uphold them in the current life.  Reports at the event mentioned practising Then singing in 11 northern mountainous provinces, folk music in ethnic groups in Điện Biên and preservation measures. Huế receives 1.9 million visitors in last 4 months   Natural ambiance at Alba Wellness Resort, which the local tourism department introduced as a new product for the tourism sector.  The former imperial capital city of Huế received almost 1.9 million visitors in the past four months, marking an increase of 12.7 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Thừa Thiên Huế Province People’s Committee. The total number of international visitors was 757,000. However, the remarkable factor was an increase of 15.9 per cent in the number of visitors staying the night in Huế, which had been known as the city that slept early, making tourists leave for Đà Nẵng, Hội An and Quảng Bình after daytime tour programmes in Huế. According to the local Department of Tourism, efforts by local authorities in creating more recreation options at night, including lighting up the citadel and night walking streets, have worked out well. The past four months of the year comprised two long holidays of the Lunar New Year over nine days and Reunification and May Day of four days. Those accounted for the rising of number of visitors to the city. The department said April alone brought 400,000 visitors to the city. The four day holiday of Reunification Day coincided with the biennial cultural event Huế Festival 2018, making the city one of the top destinations in the country. During the five-day event, from April 27 to May 2, the city accommodated 1,000 Vietnamese and 388 foreign performers from art troupes participating in the Huế Festival. However, it is unclear whether the performers were included in the total number of visitors to the city or not. Nguyễn Văn Phúc, deputy director of the local Department of Tourism said the city expected to welcome more tourists in the remaining months of the year thanks to innovation efforts made by local tourism authorities. In April, the sector introduced new wellness services in a new resort built on natural hot mineral springs, Phúc said. Đại wins fourth stage of Return to the Countryside Cycling Tournament   Young talent Hà Kiều Tấn Đại (middle). — Photo sggp.org.vn  Young talent Hà Kiều Tấn Đại won the fourth stage of the Return to the Countryside Cycling Tournament of the Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời Cup yesterday. Đại of BTV Đại Nam Bình Dương took the lead in the 112km race from Cà Mau to Sóc Trăng Province. Đại also won the green jersey award as the best sprinter with 47 points, followed by Jay Lampawog of the Go for Gold team who earned 40 points. Quách Tiến Dũng of the Military Zone 7 won the yellow jersey award for the best overall time after four stages. Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang topped the team rankings. Bike Life Đồng Nai and the Philippines were the runners-up. Today, cyclists will compete in the 50km fifth stage around Sóc Trăng City. Sports experts to participate in safe swimming programme   Students take part in a game show about safe swimming aimed at protecting children from drowning in Hà Nội on Thursday. — Photo of the organisers  The National Sports Administration will cooperate with the Ministry of Education and local communities to implement a project on safe swimming aimed at protecting children from drowning. The programme will include different activities in all 63 cities and provinces across the country from this month to August under the sponsorship of Nestle Milo. “Thousands of children die from downing every year. The number was some 2,000 in 2017. The main reason is their inability to swim. Less than 30 per cent of Vietnamese children know swimming. This is alarming, so we decided to solve the problem this year,” said Nguyễn Ngọc Anh, head of the Administration’s Amateur Sports Department, which will be in charge of the programme. According to Anh, the Administration has been working closely with different agencies to produce documents, brochures, leaflets, videos and clips and game shows specialising in safe swimming. Experts have been sent to localities to improve the swimming skills of native teachers, rescuers and staffs. A national swimming competition for children and students will be organised in July in Đà Nẵng. A contest for rescuers will also be held in Đồng Tháp province in August. These two activities are aimed at encouraging people to get involved in the project. “Hundred per cent of the cities and provinces have pledged to take part in the programme as they recognise its importance, especially as it is summer now, a time for storms and floods. We have set a target of reducing the number of deaths by drowning compared to last year,” Anh said. An official ceremony to launch the programme will be organised in Ninh Bình Province on May 20. Students to compete in self-driving contest final         Le Hong Viet, FPT CTO, at the meeting. During the final round, the teams will have to use knowledge in the fields of programming, image processing and artificial intelligence to make vehicles move at the highest speed on complex terrain; identify and avoid obstacles; and identify and follow the direction of traffic signs. The first prize winner will receive a total of VND450 million (US$19,000), including a one-week trip to Japan. The winners will also get a chance to work for FPT Software. The competition took place from October last year to May this year. The contest attracted more than 200 teams from 30 universities nationwide, increasing from 145 teams from 26 universities last year. Automobiles would be one sector undergoing the biggest changes in the fourth industrial revolution, Le Hong Viet, FPT chief technology officer, said at a meeting on Friday. Regarding that trend, FPT had invested in self-driving technology and set goals to become one of the world’s leading companies in software technology for automobiles, he said. Currently, FPT is implementing a number of projects related to self-driving technology in particular and automotives in general for about 40 major customers around the world. Not only pioneering in research and development of technology for automobiles, FPT also pushes the research, creative activities and experience of the latest technology in the field for the young people in Viet Nam through the Digital Race competition. FPT expects that with the competition and similar events there will be more advanced products in the world developed from Vietnamese wisdom. The saddest day ever: goodbye to love and dogs One fateful evening, a young lady returned home to find that her boyfriend had vanished. Far worse, he had absconded with her four precious Husky babies. In a Facebook post, a girl with the account name M.T desperately sought help from the community of netizens to find her dogs—a mother and three puppies—which the new boyfriend had apparently stolen. She wrote: “My boyfriend is an asshole. When I went to work, he called a taxi to take the whole pack to his house.” M.T immediately texted her boyfriend asking him to bring the dogs back, a request which he bluntly rejected. The girl could not come to his home to find him as she had only known him for about a month and did not know where he lived. She did know, however, that his hometown is in Bắc Ninh Province and his occupation is in animal trading (a fact which seems to bode poorly for the Huskies). She later discovered an even more shocking truth: her now ex-boyfriend used a fake name during the short relationship with her. The disgusting man even threatened to publicise a sensitive video if she kept posting about him on the internet. M.T said that she was not afraid and would report to the police if he did not show up. All the best for the poor girl, and don’t let your boyfriend babysit your Huskies, especially if he is an animal trader.   Vietnam-Australia ICT Education Showcase to bring expertise and innovative ideas for partnerships The Vietnam-Australia Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Education Showcase 2018 is offering a platform for Australian and Vietnamese institutions, research and business organisations to exchange expertise and build innovative partnerships. Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is partnering with the Vietnam Ministry of Information and Communications to deliver the Vietnam-Australia ICT Education Showcase 2018, promoting Australia’s expertise and capability in information communications technology. The Showcase will be held in Hanoi on May 16 and in Ho Chi Minh City on May 18. Seven leading Australian institutions will showcase their expertise and excellence in ICT education and training as well as their international projects in this event. This showcase is highlighted by a panel discussion on “Innovative solutions to quality human resources in digital age in Vietnam” followed by networking and one-on-one meetings between Vietnamese and Australian training providers to discuss potential institutional links and commercial partnerships. Australia is known for the reputation of high-quality education, research capability, advanced digital economy and strong commitment to innovation and science through the National Innovation and Science Agenda. Those are backed by world-class academic institutions internationally recognised for providing quality ICT education and training and research excellence. With the fast digital adoption across all sectors in Vietnam, the IT sector is growing rapidly with a focus on hardware, software, e-commerce and IT services. It is expected that Vietnam will require 400,000 IT workers from 2016-2020. As part of its Strategy for Science and Technology Development 2011-2020, the Vietnamese Government is seeking to increase the number of skilled engineers, research organisations, hi-tech incubators and hi-tech enterprise to support this expanding sector. English centre found pirating teaching programmes    Nguyen Tien Dung, chairman of Langmaster English Centre, issued public apology on May 10 after it was discovered that the centre had been reproducing teaching programmes and methods from various sources without credit. The centre was found to have been using teaching programmes and methods on the BBC and from a university in Japan in their free videos. The authors and sources aren't asked for permission or given credit. Langmaster also lied about their co-operation with AJ Hoge, the author of the Effortless English Course. According to Hoge, many centres in Vietnam have stolen his teaching method but Langmaster is the most disappointing case since he and Langmaster have held many conferences together. Not only Langmaster lied about the co-operation, it also claimed that it held exclusive rights over the effortless English teaching method in Vietnam. Nguyen Tien Dung, the founder and chairman of Langmaster, held a live stream on the Facebook fan page of the centre to apologise about the violations. They had taken down the reported violating video clips and were reviewing other clips on YouTube. Dung said the centre's reputation had been severely damaged. He apologised to the partners and students of the centre while saying that he would take all of the responsibility for releasing copyright violated contents to the public. He said they had learned from this case to be better and promised that such violation will not be repeated and they will follow the laws on copyrights in the future. "We hope we'll be given a chance to right this wrong and be able to continue contributing to the community," he said. "As the head of the centre, I apologise again and will take responsibility." The United States helps Vietnam combat wildlife crime The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Friday officially launched the USAID Saving Species project. U.S. Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Permanent Deputy Minister of MARD Dr. Ha Cong Tuan, representatives of the MARD Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Management Authority of Vietnam, and other government and NGO stakeholders attended the launch. “USAID Saving Species is not just a commitment between the U.S. and Vietnamese governments, it will also link to the efforts of other organizations, within Vietnam and beyond, who are committed to combating wildlife trafficking. Only by working together can we solve this global issue,” said Ambassador Kritenbrink. With a budget of approximately USD10 million, USAID Saving Species supports the Government of Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking through three integrated and mutually reinforcing objectives: harmonizing and improving the legal framework for wildlife crime; strengthening and improving law enforcement and prosecution of wildlife crime; and reducing consumer demand for illegal wildlife products. The project’s focal species are rhinos, elephants, and pangolins, and targeted geographic locations include major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang, as well as transit points for the illegal trade, such as border crossings, ports, and airports. "Clean Water for Schools 2018" program launched    The Ho Chi Minh City Sponsoring Association recently implemented the “Clean Water for Schools” program for Poor Patient (SAPP), in corporation with Novaland Group. Before the 2018 - 2019 school year, 52 schools at Thanh Phu District in the Mekong Delta’s Ben Tre provinces and 27 schools in Long An province’s Tan Tru District are expected to be equipped with a direct drinking water filter system that satisfies the standards of the Pasteur Institute. The budget for this program is estimated at nearly $265,000. Following a sustainable development strategy, Novaland Group is currently the pioneer in the project of “Developing Sustainable Strategy for Mekong Delta Tourism.” The Prime Minister, government agencies, and localities have been paying special attention to the project. It will create a new motivation for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, help adapt to the growing threat of climate change, and create new jobs for the local people. The partnership in the “Clean Water for Schools” project is also a demonstration of Novaland’s efforts towards the community, especially the areas affected by climate change. “Thanh Phu district has 26 km of coastline so climate change is a major obstacle to its local economic development, which is primarily agricultural,” said Mr. Nguyen Truc Son, Party Committee Secretary of Thanh Phu District in Ben Tre. “For about 3-6 months per year, the district is affected by salinity intrusion. The district has only one water plant and can only meet the needs of one third of the 150,000 people.” “Only three schools have water tanks and filters but they only temporarily meet the needs of students and teachers. 52 proposed schools in the program are still in difficult circumstances with no clean water. That’s why we are very pleased that the delegation of the SAPP, Novaland Group and the technical units have visited, researched and funded Thanh Phu district in the “Clean Water for Schools” program this year.” Within three months after the signing date, about 516 water filters will be installed in 52 schools at Thanh Phu district in Ben Tre province to provide direct drinking water for nearly 20,000 students and teachers. After Ben Tre, the “Clean Water for Schools” program will also be implemented in other provinces. The “Clean Water for Schools” program will bring water to tens of thousands of students and teachers before the new school year. According to a UNICEF report, there are currently 17 million children in Vietnam who don’t have access to clean water. The Preventive Medicine Department also announced that 30 per cent of schools still don’t have enough water for students and teachers. In particular, many reports show that the Mekong Delta is the area that is most affected by climate change and lacks clean water. In addition, the use of unsafe water from wells, rain, ponds, lake, rivers, and streams are causing serious consequences to people’s health, especially children. Some of these health problems include gastrointestinal disease, malnutrition, oral disease, helminthiasis, lead poisoning and arsenic which leads to high cancer risk. Social insurance reform for sustainable development    Social insurance is considered as the main pillar of the social welfare system and one of the most important social achievements of mankind since the early 20th century. To achieve this "position", social insurance policy itself and the implementation of social insurance policies must make appropriate adjustments to adapt to the real situation. In the past 30 years, the world has witnessed a number of social insurance reforms, with the focus on pension reform implemented in dozens of Latin American, Central and Eastern European countries, the United States, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, and others. At present, the reform roadmap is still underway in many countries. These reforms have many similarities. First, it derives from the challenges facing each country, including the increasing pressure on the budget and the social insurance fund, as well as an aging population, and low social insurance coverage, among others. The reforms also aim to fulfil the objectives set out by social insurance policies including ensuring better interests for participants, increasing the coverage of social insurance, and effectively using the labour resources to serve development needs, and so forth. As a nation that always pays due attention to the development and happiness of the people, the Party and the State of Vietnam have soon given heed to implementing the social insurance policy for workers, defining it as the target and motivation for national sustainable development, as well as the good nature of the socialist regime. In each period in the history of the country, the social insurance policy system has been adjusted many times to meet the objective requirements. In particular, after the country's Doi Moi (reform) policy, Vietnam implemented important reforms in its social insurance policy in 1995, such as establishing a system of agencies specialising in implementing social insurance policy at three levels; establishing a social insurance fund independent from the state budget which is formed on the contributions of both employers and employees; in addition to expanding the scope of subjects participating in compulsory social insurance and implementing voluntary social insurance; among others. Thanks to these important reforms, the social insurance fund has become the largest welfare fund; the organisational model of the social insurance system has promoted its effectiveness in policy implementation; and the number of employees participating in compulsory and voluntary social insurance has continuously increased (reaching 13.9 million people by the end of 2017, an increase of seven times compared to 1995). The number of beneficiaries of pension and monthly social insurance allowances comes to more than three million people and, each year, more than nine million people are provided with short-term allowances such as sickness, maternity, health rehabilitation, and unemployment, among others. The total spending from the social insurance fund for these interests has increased to more than VND130 trillion (US$5.72 billion) per year, while the expenditure from the budget has been decreasing. However, besides these important achievements, the implementation of social insurance in Vietnam also shows inadequacies, including the low coverage of social insurance; the social insurance system being designed in a single-stage manner with loose connections to other social policies; and compulsory social insurance also omits some groups of people with the demand and ability to participate in it. In addition, the retirement and death benefits fund are at risk of long-term imbalances; the social insurance evasion and debts have yet to be resolved thoroughly; and a lack of full awareness on the part of employers and employees of social insurance. In particular, the social insurance system also has to face high pressures in the population aging trend and the impacts from the industrial revolution 4.0 which will create changes in labour structure and relations. Thus, it is an objective and necessity to effectively solve the existing problems to ensure the sustainable development of the social welfare system in particular and the goal of national sustainable development in general. President praises natural disaster prevention and rescue forces   Armed forces help farmers in Ha Lan commune, Bim Son town (Thanh Hoa province) to harvest flooded rice.  President Tran Dai Quang warmly praised the prevention and rescue forces who have embraced hardships and made every effort in natural calamity prevention and control over the past year. He also sent his best wishes to all fellow soldiers and those working in the natural disaster rescue forces, as well as the Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, in his letter on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam’s Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Day (May 22, 1946 – 2018). He recalled that, over the past year, natural disasters occurred continuously which posed significant impacts on localities. Heavy rain poured on a large scale and serious floods and landslides were observed in the mountainous provinces, together with storms and tropical depressions over the East Sea, leading to many losses of life and property. The President noted with pleasure that, thanks to the drastic directions and prompt actions of sectors, departments, rescue forces, and armed forces, as well as the positive participation of people from all walks of life, the damage caused by natural disasters has been minimised. He also warned that the natural disaster situation will get more complicated due to the impact of global climate change, posing great challenges for the country in the future. Therefore, he asked the Party committees at all levels, as well as the local authorities, agencies, organisations, armed forces and entire people to raise a higher sense of responsibility, solidarity and consensus in accordance with the “four-on-the-spot” principle; improve people’s preparedness and readiness to reduce loss of life and property, in order to build a society resilient to natural disasters and facilitate the country’s sustainable development. Awards presented for promoting President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, morals and style   Eight A, 34 B, 67 C and 55 consolation prizes were awarded at the ceremony.   As many as 164 of the top admissions that entered into the contest on ‘Studying and Following President Ho Chi Minh’s Thoughts, Morals and Style’, phase 1 (2016-2018), were honoured at an awards ceremony in Hanoi on May 13. The ceremony was attended by Politburo members: permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh; Secretary of the CPVCC and Head of CPVCC Commission for Communication and Education Vo Van Thuong; and Secretary of the CPVCC and Head of CPVCC Commission for Economic Affairs Nguyen Van Binh. Ever since the contest was launched two years ago, the steering committee and organising boards have received thousands of literary, artistic and journalistic works from artists and journalists both at home and abroad. The entries included a variety of media formats including prose, poetry, plays and literary criticism, paintings, photography, music, cinematography and dance. A wide range of journalistic works from print newspapers, radio and television were also entered in the contest. Eight A, 34 B, 67 C and 55 consolation prizes were awarded at the ceremony. The event was held as part of the activities to celebrate the 128th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh. Outstanding young workers honoured for innovative solutions in production   Sixty-five young workers honoured with the 9th Outstanding Young Workers’ Award 2018.  Sixty-five young workers with innovative solutions in production and outstanding work results have been honoured with the 9th Outstanding Young Workers’ Award 2018. The award ceremony was held by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Hanoi yesterday evening, aiming to honour and encourage young workers who have demonstrated high skills and creative solutions that provide socio-economic efficiency. This year, the Youth Union Central Committee received 215 nominees for the award, from 57 provinces, cities and units nationwide. The organisers selected the 65 best individuals to award the noble title to in 2018. They are typical examples, representing over 4.5 million young workers, artisans and students at vocational schools across the country, who are doing their best for the cause of national industrialisation. Speaking at the ceremony, Politburo member Truong Thi Mai affirmed that youngsters are the leading force in the cause of building and developing the country, with the ability to master science and technology alongside their enthusiasm, endurance and desire to assert themselves in new and hard work. In the Doi Moi (renovation) period, they have shown dynamic, sensitive and active preparation towards setting up their career. Emphasising the challenges that will be faced during international integration, Politburo member Mai, who is also Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, expressed her wish that the winners would continue to hone their skills to become the core force in leading the country to overcome the challenges related to labour productivity, economic restructuring, climate change and the aging population. She also urged the authorities and localities concerned to focus on training and improving the skills for young workers, while regularly praising and honouring teachers, administrators and artisans in job training. She also asked the Youth Union to promote revolutionary movements among its members to promote creativeness for each youth group, especially the young workers. Earlier the same day, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the German Agency for International Cooperation co-organised a photo exhibition featuring examples of outstanding young workers. Also on Sunday, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union organised a forum on promoting creativity among young workers. At the event, leaders from the relevant units and the 65 young workers discussed solutions to promote creative activities among young workers and shared their experience on effective models in localities and their units. Delegates also proposed solutions to improve the responsibility and the role of the Youth Union’s organisations in creating a creative environment for the Vietnamese youth. Private company grants US$ 19 million for upgrading public hospital   Representatives of the Ministry of Health, city’s Department of Health, An Binh Hospital and sponsor participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for upgrading An Binh Hospital. HCMC’s leading investment group Van Thinh Phat (VTP Group) yesterday announced an unconditional and non-refundable aid package of over VND 451 billion (US$ 19 million) for upgrading An Binh Hospital, the first financed project in HCMC under this kind of aid.  Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of An Binh Hospital upgrading construction yesterday, Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Tien said that on behalf of the health sector he would like to say thanks to Van Thinh Phat Group Joint for the aid package of upgrading An Binh Hospital and requested the hospital and contractors to use the fund responsibly.  This is a big sum of money that the group had to save in its business, hence, beneficiaries must use the source of financial support most efficiently, the project must be on schedule and have quality assurance, said the Permanent Deputy Minister of Health. He said that the health factor has overcome many difficulties to complete the mission of taking care of people health, to which many individuals and organizations including businesses have contributed so much.  The aid from VTP Group for rebuilding An Binh Hospial is a good example for the contribution of private partners and it is treasurable because the aid is an unconditional and non-refundable, he added. Director of HCMC Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh said that the upgrade of facilities and improvement of equipment in the hospital are aiming to raise quality of health examination and treatment.  HCMC has set up target of good facilities and high quality of healthcare services in all its hospitals by 2020. An Binh Hospital located in an area of 15,000 square meter on An Binh Street in District 5 is a level 2 general hospital including 23 medical departments and 10 supportive service departments with 700 employees. It receives 2,000 patients everyday.   Initially, the hospital was a temple built by the Vietnamese Chinese community in 1892, aiming at providing free treatment to poor patients with traditional Chinese medicine.  Ass Prof. Dr. Bui Manh Con who is the hospital director said that the hospital is seriously degraded, often flooded during tides and rainfalls, causing dificulties for patients and affecting badly medical examination and treatment.  With the sponsor from VTP Group, the hospital will be built into a green, high-tech medical center which is expected not only to meet demand of healthcare of city inhabitants but also to provide high quality medical services at resasonable prices, he said. The hospital is designed to have 500 standard beds. The aid from Van Thinh Phat will be used to build 200 standard beds and the main building of 12 floors and 1 base with the using square of 23,000 m2 in the first phase.  It is planned to set up funtional areas including polyclinic, outpatient treatment, technical, inpatient treatment, administration, logistics and auxiliary, parking areas.  The hospital will also be equipped with advanced medical instruments, aiming to increase quality of healthcare services. The 300 remaining beds are scheduled to build in the second phase and funded by the state budget.  The hospital is planned to set up new speciality fields, enhance specialized medical treatment, raise quality of medical care services, cut down the mortality rate. The hospital strives to meet the Health Ministry’s space standard of 9m2 per bed. After being upgraded the hospital is expected to reach the standard of level 1 hospital. HCMC- based VTP Group found in 1991 is a Vietnam’s leading private multifield company that invests mainly in the real estate, construction, hotels, restaurants, financial services… The company has contributed to the social and economic development by charity activities and financial aids.  The non-refundable investment package for An Binh Hospital is the real support by the group to help HCMC to deal with the overloaded situation in public hospitals.  The group chose An Binh Hospital because it is the oldest one in the city and had been a charity medical facility. In addition, the hospital is being damaged while the demand for medical treatment is increasing. Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien said that city residents will have more chances to access high quality healthcare services with reasonable prices if more and more private partners join hands with the Government, provide unconditional and non-refundable aids to upgrade public hospitals that are facing overcapacity and degrading situation. Surgeons reattach amputated forefinger, thumb    Surgeons of the Department of Trauma- Burn of the General Hospital in the central province of Binh Dinh succeeded in reattaching a carpenter’s thumb and forefinger, said the hospital on May 12. Working in the carpentry workshop, 27 year-old Nguyen Huu Kh. accidentally cut his thumb and index finger clean off of his hand on April 21. Immediately, the workmates preserved both of Kh.’s fingers. Then he was taken to Binh Dinh General Hospital for emergency treatment. After 5 hours of surgery, doctors had successfully reattached the carpenter’s fingers. After 20-day treatment, Kh.’s reattached fingers were “alive” and movable. Health agencies distribute rabies vaccine to curb shortage   People who were bitten by cats or dogs should be vaccinated at health centers  More people succumbed to rabies because there was shortage of the vaccine against the disease in some localities. The National Tropical Disease Hospital admitted several cases of rabies in recent months, medical workers could not  save their lives because they had not vaccinated after being bitten by mad dogs and cats. Since the beginning of the year, there has been an escalation of deaths due to rabies. Fretting that more people will succumb to the disease because the hot weather is conducive to rabies virus development, the health sector has planned to add more vaccine against rabies in several localities that have reported the shortage of the vaccine. Lately, the National Tropical Disease Hospital has admitted a 40 year old woman from the northern province of Bac Giang had rabies after she was bitten by a dog one month before. Doctors’ efforts to save her were unrewarded at last. The Pasteur Institute and the Tropical Disease Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City announced a crowd of people flock to the hospital for vaccination against rabies. Since the beginning of the year, the hospital monthly receives 170 – 270 people who were bitten by dogs and cats averagely. They were given anti-rabies serum (SAR) and around 200 - 800 people were injected vaccine Verorab against rabies. Pasteur Institute daily admits 800 – 1,200 people who arrived at the institute for hearing consultation and injection. The number has more than doubled compared to before.  By the Preventative Health Department’s statistic, in first four months of 2018, 18 people succumbed to the disease nationwide, an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period last year. Medical experts said that rabies cases usually hike in hot weather from May to August in all ages. Deaths result from not vaccination. Rabies attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals and humans. Zoonosis that can be transmitted to humans via bites or scratches or can be wound through the saliva of animals affected with rabies-infected animal can turn into more aggressive / violent and may attack human and ends with death. Head of the hospital’s Emergency Department Dr. Nguyen Trung Cap advised people to inject the vaccine right after they are bitten. The Department of Preventive Medicine pointed out there has been no specific drug for rabies except anti-rabies serum and vaccine. Timely vaccination is an effective way to prevent rabies in human. According to the Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health, rabies vaccines are allowed to circulate in Vietnam including French-made Verorab and Indian-made vaccine Abhayrab, Indirab, Speeda, Rabipur. Around 700 medical facilities give rabies vaccination nationwide. Annually, approximately 400,000 – 500,000 vaccinated against rabies. Deputy Head of the Drug Administration Do Van Dong said that demand of vaccine depends on the number of victims of animal bite. Therefore, planning and prediction of vaccine demand is quite difficult especially in the time when demand increased drastically. Following shortage of the vaccine in early  2081, the administration contacted with importers to provide more vaccine to localities which reported the shortage. The administration also checked suppliers’ document to provide more rabies vaccine in circulation. As per the plan, in May, there will be 273,000 doze of vaccine imported into Vietnam, double that in one month in 2017 with the hope to solve the shortage in some districts. According to the Department of Animal Health in HCMC, in first two months of 2018 , about 3,177 inhabitants bitten by animals were vaccinated. Ministries run disaster prevention program The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have just signed a program together in preventing and alleviating natural disaster for schools in the period 2018-2023. The aim of the program is to focus the role of education in preparing for and preventing natural disaster helping reduce halts in teaching and learning activities when natural disaster hit localities. Moreover, it also is to curb deaths of students because of drowning in flood season. Accordingly, the two ministries will expand the model of schools adapting to disaster in each regions. Additionally, the two ministries will build piloted models in districts identified as being highly vulnerable to disasters. Moreover, these facilities will turn to be safe shelters for locals. The ministries proposed to qualify safe school as a criteria in the child injury prevention programs. Relevant agencies are assigned to compile guidance documents on disaster prevention which are suitable for each localities and ages of students. Lessons in these educational kits on natural disaster risks will be taught in extra-activities. Social contributions in building smart swimming pools, making life-jacket, and providing swimming classes are encouraged. Education sector calls for help for disadvantaged districts   Teachers, students in Kbang  commune in the highland province of Gia Lai are on the way to school  The Department of Education and Training in Ho Chi Minh City in coordination with the Labor Union called for help for teaching staffs and students in disadvantaged districts. Teachers, students and staffs in private and public preschools, primary, junior and senior high schools, colleges in Ho Chi Minh City were encouraged to help for their peers in mountainous, distant and disadvantaged districts. Teachers and students are also encouraged to support their peers in these regions. Teachers and students can contribute to the call for to May 31, 2018. New method for deposit treatment in boilers introduced Ewater Engineering Co. Ltd. has just received a science-technology business certificate from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology thanks to its innovative water treatment solution named ‘Ionization technology to treat deposits in boilers without chemicals’. The mentioned technology exercises physics and electromagnetic laws to create one specific electromagnetic induction field inside a tube. Using continuously alternative wave frequencies from 1.2 – 48kHz, it provides proper energy to ionize water as well as deposits and rust, reducing their ability to gum up the surface of the tube. This new technology is used for water treatment in industrial boilers in certain industries such as clothing, textile, food processing, hard and soft drink manufacturing, aquaculture, paper manufacturing, and cashew manufacturing. It can even be implemented in boilers of military kitchens. Until now, this solution of Ewater Engineering has been installed in many factories nationwide with very positive results. Report shows that after three months, deposits in those boilers have been completely removed, greatly increasing the performance of the boilers while significantly reducing energy use. A product introduction show is going to be co-held by the Center for Science and Technology Information (under the HCMC Department of Science and Technology) and Ewater Engineering Co. Ltd. on May 18 at the address of 79 Truong Dinh Street of District 1, HCMC. VNN