Great barrier reef

Four Thu Duc City bridges unable to bridge the gap

April 18, 2021 by e.vnexpress.net

Construction of Thu Thiem 2 Bridge spanning the Saigon River to link District 1 with the then District 2, which has now become a part of Thu Duc City, had started back in 2015. The bridge connects with Thu Thiem New Urban Area in Thu Duc City spans 1.4 kilometers long in total and comprises six lanes.

Construction of the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge spanning the Saigon River to link District 1 with District 2 (now part of Thu Duc City) started in 2015. The 1.4 kilometers long, six lane bridge would connect with the Thu Thiem New Urban Area.

Built with a cost of nearly VND3.1 trillion ($134.9 million), the project was originally scheduled to complete in 2018. As of last year, work on the project was 70 percent complete but construction on certain sections in District 1 continues to face delays since some of the required land belongs to the Ministry of National Defense.

Being built at a cost of nearly VND3.1 trillion ($134.9 million), the project was originally scheduled for completing in 2018. As of last year, work on the project was 70 percent complete but construction on certain sections in District 1 continues to face delays since some of the required land belongs to the Ministry of National Defense.

The cable-stayed bridge, with the main tower rising 113 meters high and leaning towards Thu Thiem and the artistic lighting design, has been expected to work as an architectural highlight on the Saigon River. Once completed, it will help connect the city’s heart of District 1 with Thu Thiem New Urban Area and ease traffic congestion at the intersections of Ton Duc Thang-Nguyen Huu Canh streets and Ton Duc Thang-Le Thanh Ton streets in District 1.Aside from the land clearance roadblock, the project has also faced issues in verifying both project volume and value with investor Dai Quang Minh Real Estate Investment JSC. For now, related agencies and departments are in the process of negotiating with the investor, as required by the Department of Transport earlier last month.

The cable-stayed bridge, with its main tower rising 113 meters and leaning towards Thu Thiem, is supposed to become an architectural highlight on the river with an artistic lighting design. Once complete, it will help connect the downtown HCMC with the Thu Thiem New Urban Area and ease traffic congestion at the intersections of Ton Duc Thang-Nguyen Huu Canh streets and Ton Duc Thang-Le Thanh Ton streets in District 1.

The bridge as seen from the side of Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1. It is expected that on April 15, work would resume on the bridge after the city authorities have worked with Dai Quang Minh and related parties to tackle all issues for the project so that it could be completed in 2023.

The bridge as seen from Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1. Work resumed on Thursday on the bridge after city authorities worked with Dai Quang Minh and others to tackle all issues so that the project can be completed in 2023.

In 2016, work started to build Nam Ly Bridge on Do Xuan Hop Street at the cost of VND857 billion to replace an old one that has been become degraded and way too small for the rising demand. Passing Rach Chiec Canal, the bridge is 450 meters long, 20 meters wide and was initially slated for completion in 2018 but by 2019, only 39 percent had been finished and the project has been put on hold ever since to wait for clear site.

In 2016, work began on the Nam Ly Bridge on Do Xuan Hop Street at the cost of VND857 billion. It was to replace an old one that had degraded and was too small to meet rising traffic demand. The 450m long, 20m wide bridge over the Rach Chiec Canal was to be completed in 2018, but in 2019, just 39 percent of the work had been done. The project has been put on hold since, awaiting site clearance.

Building materials turn rusty on the half-finished bridge.

Building materials rust on the half-finished bridge.

Wild grass grows all over barriers set around the foot of a bridge span that. Locals have even place several signboards to advertise their products and service on those barriers.

Wild plants grow around barriers set at the foot of a bridge span. Locals have begun using them to advertise various products and services.

Areas beneath the bridge have been turned into landfills.Tardiness in compensating affected households has led the problems in clearing site for the rest of the project. It is because the HCMC’s Department of Natural Resources and the city administration have yet to approve the compensation costs. For this issue, the authorities of Thu Duc City have proposed higher authorities to soon approve the compensation, promising that once that approval is made, Thu Duc will offer clean land plots for the project within six months.

Some areas beneath the unfinished bridge resemble landfills.

Six kilometers from Nam Ly, Tang Long Bridge on La Xuan Oai Street has been built since 2017 to span 680 meters across the Trau Trau Canal to replace an old, downgraded one nearby.

Six kilometers from Nam Ly, the Tang Long Bridge on La Xuan Oai Street is another one that has been languishing after work began in 2017. The 680 meters long bridge over the Trau Trau Canal is meant to replace an old, downgraded one nearby.

Costing VND450 billion, it is set to be completed in 2019 but by far, just more than 30 percent is done and the rest is being stuck at the step of clearing site.The issue of this project is related to adjustment in the geological border for the project that was made by the authorities of District 9 before the district was merged with districts 2 and Thu Duc to become Thu Duc City earlier this year. Now, the project’s management board said if Thu Duc City continues the job that District 9 has started and hands over the clear site soon, the bridge could be completed in 12 months.

The VND450 billion bridge was to be completed in 2019, but so far, only around 30 percent of the work has been done, site clearance proving to be the stumbling block, yet again.

Long Dai Bridge across the Tac River, a tributary of the Dong Nai River, was built in March 2017 at the cost of VND353 billion and for completion in two years. By now, its progress has reached just more than 50 percent as all the construction work has stopped since December, 2018.

Work on the Long Dai Bridge across the Tac River, a tributary of the Dong Nai River, began in March 2017. Built at a cost of VND353 billion, it was to be completed in two years. But two years after the original deadline, the bridge is far from completion with around 50 percent of the work remaining unfinished. Construction work on the bridge stopped in December, 2018.

The lateness in site clearance has been blamed for disagreement in compensation level. Thu Duc City came to life on Dec. 9 after the National Assembly greenlighted its establishment as a city within a city in HCMC. The new city was formed by merging three eastern districts - 2, 9 and Thu Duc. Spreading across 211 square kilometers, it houses more than a million people and is expected to contribute 30 percent of the city’s economic growth and 7 percent for the nations per year. Thu Duc is also expected to function as an innovative urban area encompassing the hi-tech park in District 9, the university precinct in Thu Duc District, and the new urban area and financial center on Thu Thiem Peninsula in District 2, helping fulfill HCMC’s plans to become a smart city.

The delay in site clearance has been blamed on disagreements over the compensation.

Hanoi-Amsterdam School ‘superman’ dreams of becoming astronomer

April 18, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

A physics major at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted has received two pieces of good news – acceptance letters from MIT and Princeton University in the US.

Hanoi-Amsterdam School ‘superman’ dreams of becoming astronomer

MIT ranks fifth among THE’s best universities in 2021 and leads the world’s schools in technology training according to QS 2021 ranking. It offered the student financial support of $64,000 a year.

Passion for astrophysics

In childhood, Quan was curious about natural phenomena in the universe. “Why are there constellations?” “Where do shooting stars come from?” These were questions that Quan wanted to answer.

Quan scored first in the entrance exam for the math major class at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, and the exam for the chemistry major class at the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences.

The great achievements were why Quan’s friends called him superman.

Le Manh Cuong, his physics teacher, discovered Quan’s special love for constellations in the sky. Though astronomy and astrophysics was not a subject in the general education program, he decided to help Quan learn about it.

Later, it was the teacher who sent Quan to the national astrophysics team to attend the international competition. In 2019, Quan attended the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) and won a gold medal with maximum scores.

After returning from the international competition, Quan began seeking an environment where he could study and conduct research.

He believed that leading schools such as MIT and Princeton would offer favorable conditions for students’ creativity, learning and promotion of their abilities, especially with the advice of leading professors in their fields.

Quan applied to the two schools because they are among a small number of schools that choose international students based on their abilities, not on candidates’ financial capability.

Quan had a strong profile when applying for the schools. The physics major had a 1600/1600 SAT and 8.0 IELTS. He twice won first prize in physics at the national competition for excellent students, when he was in the 11th and 12th grades.

Quan attended many national and international competitions and won a lot of medals, including the gold medal at the 2018 International Youth Science Olympia and gold medal at 2019 IOAA, gold medal at 2020 European Physics Olympiad.

The medals were not really made of gold, but from sweat during training, according to Quan. He said hopes he will have the chance to attend the International Physics Olympiad this year.

Thuy Nga – Huu Chanh – Phuong Thu

Chubb Life Vietnam awarded Certificate of Merit by Minister of Education and Training

April 16, 2021 by www.vir.com.vn

Chubb Life Vietnam always stands ready to provide timely and practical support to the community

Since opening its first office in the country in 2005, Chubb Life Vietnam has focused on creating a positive impact and sustainable development for the communities in which it operates. The company now employs over 40,000 employees and agents, in over 140 offices across Vietnam and makes an important contribution to the development of the country’s education system.

To date, Chubb Life Vietnam and the Chubb Charitable Foundation have contributed over VND30 billion ($1.3 million) to the construction of nine new schools in Central Vietnam. The company has also funded new educational equipment to schools and awarded scholarships to support thousands of underprivileged students in their schooling.

To date, Chubb Life Vietnam and the Chubb Charitable Foundation have contributed over VND30 billion ($1.3 million) to the construction of nine new schools in Central Vietnam.

“We are proud to receive the Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam as part of our continuous effort to support the communities we live and work in,” said Lam Hai Tuan, chairman and country president of Chubb Life Vietnam. “With our goal of sustainable development, Chubb Life Vietnam not only focuses on maintaining exceptional business performance but also strives to create long-term value for our customers and their communities. This award is a great recognition and encouragement to our employees’ unwavering effort to support Vietnam’s future generation.”

Lam Hai Tuan added: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the Ministry for their support and recognition of our work helping to ensure a brighter future for the younger generation.”

Chubb Life Vietnam always stands ready to provide timely and practical support to the community. When a series of rainstorms hit Vietnam’s central region in October 2020, the company donated 15,000 warm coats to children in the affected area through the “Chubb Life Vietnam – Am Tinh Mien Trung ” initiative. Not only did this provide much needed material aid, but it also comforted students and allowed them to get back to their study with ease.

Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance, and life insurance to a diverse group of clients.

Chubb Life is the international life insurance division of Chubb. In Vietnam since 2005, Chubb Life launched its fund management company (Chubb Life Fund Management Co., Ltd.) in 2013. The company offers a range of life protection, health, savings, and investment-linked insurance solutions through its agents and its wide network of offices.

By Anh Duc

Defense minister joins tree-planting festival in MR 2

April 19, 2021 by en.qdnd.vn

The event witnessed the participation of Defense Minister Sr. Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Deputy Defense Minister Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, and senior leaders of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army.

Addressing the ceremony, MR 2’s Commander Maj. Gen. Pham Hong Chuong held that the military region’s affiliated units have built concrete plans for the tree-planting campaign and collaborated with local authorities in caring for and protecting forests and improving the ecological environment.

In response to the campaign, the Party committees and chains-of-command at all levels have enhanced information dissemination to raise troops’ awareness of the great benefits and values of tree-planting while closely collaborating with local authorities and people to implement various measures to take care of green trees, prevent forest fires and fight deforestation.

After the launching ceremony, General Giang and delegates planted trees at MR 2’s headquarters. On this occasion, the defense minister also offered incense at the Hung Kings Temple Historical Relic Site and paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at a memorial area inside the headquarters while visiting several MR 2’s projects under construction.

Translated by Trung Thanh