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The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has let people make their offerings via Momo e-wallet at several pagodas as a safe and appropriate method given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Venerable Thich Duc Thien, vice-president and general secretary of the VBS’s Executive Council, confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that the new method is being piloted at Phuc Khanh Pagoda in Hanoi, Yen Tu Pagoda in Quang Ninh Province, Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province, Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province, Phat Tich Pagoda in Bac Ninh Province, and Dai Tue Pagoda in Nghe An Province.

The trial began during the recent Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which ended last week, at a time when the complicated pandemic has resulted in the temporary closure of pagodas and religious activities in several provinces and cities.

This approach will also help publicize the amount of money offered, a way to promote transparency in the receipt of offerings.

During the pilot period, the VBS will pool feedback from local residents before deciding whether to apply the electronic offerings to other pagodas nationwide.

According to Venerable Thich Dao Hien, deputy head of the executive board of the Buddhist Sangha in Quang Ninh Province, the alternative is suitable at large-scale pagodas, while it is unnecessary to apply it at small establishments.

Related problems should also be taken into consideration as scammers may take advantage of this to trick local residents, Hien advised.

This method may only be viable during serious pandemics such as COVID-19, he said, adding that making offerings the conventional way is still preferred.

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Two state-run schools in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region are opening the doors of creativity for young adults through a hands-on curriculum focused on opportunities for technical design, the arts, and agriculture.

Thoi Lai Town Middle School in Can Tho, a business hub in the Mekong Delta, has created a dedicated space for students to play musical instruments, draw, play chess, participate in academic clubs, and showcase their own creative inventions.

Pham Kim Ngan, a teacher at the middle school, said the children plan to design drones, machines to help with garbage collection and robots to sweep classroom floors.

“Although their designs weren’t feasible, we’re happy to help develop their interests in creating new things and developing their inquiring minds,” Ngan said.

“The program is also a good way keep them away from harmful things in society.”

She said students with artistic and creative abilities use the ‘creative park’ as a place to develop their talents.

“My parents scolded me for things like dismantling the electric fan and iron in our house and trying but failing to put them back together. Now I’m really happy to have a place to learn freely by myself,” said eighth-grader Nguyen Minh Hoang.

Trung An High School, also in Can Tho, is following a similar model, zoning off a section of the schoolyard for growing cabbage, radish, and cauliflower.

The school offers seeds, pots, and a watering system for the students, but they must find fertilizer and soil themselves.

As an incentive for the students, the school offers awards based on the success of the gardeners’ crops.

“Both teachers and students were excited. The students felt as if they were carrying out a great task. The teachers and students now have a relationship as well,” said Le Van Dung, the school’s principal.

Positive feedback on the program has spread beyond school grounds.

Many students said their parents were surprised to hear their children were able to grow vegetables.

Tran Ngoc Thien Chau, an eleventh grader at Trung An High School, said she now feels confident in her ability to grow vegetables.

A local education official said participation in the activities at the two schools requires little time from students but has great benefits in exposing them to everyday jobs and developing their creativity and interpersonal skills.

More schools in Can Tho are expected to develop similar programs, another official said.

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During the early days of the Year of the Buffalo, residents of Na Hang Tua Chu, a mountainous village of Mu Cang Chai District in Vietnam’s Yen Bai Province, were excited to welcome the very first tourists coming to their hometown.

On a concrete road leading to the village, a group of youngsters stood with their motorbikes, waiting to offer guests a ride to visit the villagers’ pride – a fairylike bamboo forest.

“Parts of our identity have been nurtured by forests,” 27-year-old Lu A Tru, a Hmong ethnic, said about the motivation behind the village’s effort to plant the forest.

“By protecting them, we reserve what makes us ourselves.”

The bamboo forest in Mu Cang Chai District of Yen Bai Province, Vietnam was first planted some six decades ago. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

The evergreen forest, planted some 60 years ago, stretched over an area of one hectare.

“Deforestation has to be ended,” Tru affirmed.

“Elsewhere, bamboo forests are promoted to be tourism attractions.

“Why can’t ours?”

Lu A Tru stands in Na Hang Tua Chu Village’s proud bamboo forest. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

Motivated by the thought, Tru called the village’s youngsters to join hands forming a cooperative.

Their vision was to develop a new livelihood for locals while preserving the bamboo forest.

Tru and his teammates built walking lanes and stairs for tourists to access the forest easier.

Swings, shacks, and tea tables were also made for them to rest and enjoy nature in the woods.

The cooperative pays attention to specific details.

Several trash bins are placed along the lanes with friendly reminders of not indiscriminately littering and not climbing up young bamboo plants.

Despite being young, Tru has earned respect from his fellow villagers.

Since high school graduation, his life has been attached to the paddy fields and maize farms.

The man credits his success and motivation to the fact that he abstains from drinking and gambling.

“It makes no good for my family,” said Tru.

A tiny lane built inside the bamboo forest in Na Hang Tua Chu Village. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

In 2019, Tru was elected by locals to be the village Communist party cell’s secretary. With the power and responsibility in his hands, along with the other three representatives, Tru laid out a vision to build up a local tourism model.

The road leading to the forest was built in just a day, with the help of villagers. Shacks, tables, and chairs were also made by the locals.

“Since the bamboo forest was opened to the public, we have tightened management over it,” he said.

“Touring around the forest, we introduce guests to its history.

“We hope our efforts can leave a legacy for our children to follow.”

A group of tourists take photos in the bamboo forest in Na Hang Tua Chu Village. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

Villagers are encouraged to sell their homemade specialties, corn, sweet potato, and cassava for tourists as an approach to bring local products closer to potential consumers.

“I stay in the forest the whole day. The more tourists come to visit, the merrier,” Tru said.

“Seeing locals earning new, stable livelihoods makes me happy and eager to do more.”

On peak days, during Tet – Vietnamese Lunar New Year, for example, each household can earn up to VND1 million (US$44).

A visitor takes a rest in the bamboo forest. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

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Six healthcare facilities in the northern province Tuesday began offering the test at a maximum cost of VND734,000 ($32).

The seven-day Tet break saw people all over the country return home to their extended family and gather to celebrate the arrival of the new lunar year, increasing the chances of the disease’s spread.

The six facilities are Quang Ninh Provincial Hospital, Bai Chay Hospital, Quang Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, Quang Ninh Center for Disease Control (CDC), Vietnam – Sweden Hospital, and Vinmec International General Hospital.

If companies and other organizations want their employees tested, the hospitals will send personnel to collect samples.

If anyone tests positive, they will inform that person directly by phone and notify the province CDC.

Right on the first morning the Quang Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital collected almost 200 samples.

Technically, the test results should take 24 hours, though in the province it could take longer because of the numbers.

Quang Ninh is where one of the first two cases in Vietnam’s latest Covid outbreak was detected on January 28. The other was in neighboring Hai Duong Province.

Since then the province has had 60 cases, second after only Hai Duong, which has had 539.

The infection has since then spread to 13 other cities and provinces, including Hanoi and HCMC.

Vietnam has so far had 2,311 cases, 699 of them active.