Nature

An otter, an endangered animal, is caged and sold at Thanh Hoa market in Long An province (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Wildlife trafficking in Vietnam remains complicated both before and during COVID-19, a report released on June 18 by the People and Nature Reconciliation ( PanNature ) non-profit organisation showed. The report was based on a survey carried out across 20 provinces and cities nationwide in 2019-20. Vietnam is viewed as a hotspot for transportation and consumption of wildlife products of the world. Despite the Government’s efforts to prevent the illegal trade after COVID-19 broke out, the number of violations has yet to decline. Some wildlife markets are still open and even rare and endangered animals, like turtles and birds, are put up for sale. Of note, elephant tusk smuggling remains rampant with illegally trading of ivory products found in 27 out of 31 surveyed locations. Many wild animals are kept in cages with poor sanitation, posing risks of … [Read more...] about Wildlife trafficking in Vietnam remains complex: report

An eroded site (Illustrative photo: VNA) Ca Mau (VNA) - Erosion was recently detected in three sections measuring about 1,700m of the embankment in Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts in the southernmost province of Ca Mau. The damage was caused by Storm Koguma , the second one hitting the East Sea this year, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Department has instructed the irrigation division to arrange personnel to keep watch on the eroded parts and proposed the provincial People’s Committee strengthen the dykes before the stormy season arrives. Projects to strengthen the current sections of the dyke and build new parts as well as residential areas, are lagging behind due to high prices of building materials, labour shortages and land clearance issues. After inspecting erosion that recently occurred, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Thanh Trieu ordered the acceleration of the … [Read more...] about Erosion detected in Ca Mau’s coastal embankment

The charms on the borderline By Huu Long Ban Gioc Waterfall - PHOTOS: HUU LONG HCMC - The northern mountainous borderline province of Cao Bang is beautiful all year round relying on its highland terrain. August and September are said to be the best time to visit Cao Bang, a northern province bordering China. During this period, Ban Gioc Waterfall, which is a natural borderline separating Vietnam and China, fully exposes its beauty. The waterfall is one of the 10 most spectacular cascading scenes in the world, according to Touropia in 2015. Moreover, tourists will be enchanted by the peaceful views of sunset in the smoky air from local kitchens and the yellow rice fields. In the end of the year, buckwheat flower fields stretching from mountains to valleys are in full bloom. Meanwhile, blooming wild sunflowers are blowing in the wind. Aside from Ban Gioc Waterfall, Cao Bang also offers other attractions which are arguably equally beautiful. Thang Hen Lake, Nguom … [Read more...] about The charms on the borderline

Rice – shrimp farming fields in Bac Lieu province’s Hong Dan district. (Photo: VNA) Bac Lieu (VNS/VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu plans to expand large-scale production and the use of advanced techniques to improve agricultural yield and quality and raise farmers' incomes from now to 2025. The provincial People’s Committee targets production of 1.17 million tonnes of paddy, including 190,240 tonnes of organic paddy, a year by 2025. It plans to expand large-scale rice fields to 100,000ha, or about half of the province’s total rice area. Farmers participating in large-scale rice fields will have contracts with rice companies that will ensure stable prices. It also plans to produce 600,000 tonnes of seafood a year by 2025, with half of that being shrimp. About 20,500 tonnes of organic shrimp will be produced a year by 2025. It targets breeding more pigs, buffalo, cows and goats, and 3.5 million poultry a year by 2025. The province, which is the delta’s … [Read more...] about Bac Lieu to expand large-scale agricultural production

Whenever I reach a new destination I seek out a favourite coffee shop as my headquarters or “HQ.” No idea how I picked up the habit – there is no logical reason for it. After all these years of roaming around I’ve just picked up a few odd habits I guess, and this is one of them. I need an HQ or I won’t feel settled in. Somewhere where people can find me in the daytime (but since I know nobody, there’s nobody to find me - yet). The criteria are rigid: First, the café must be frequented entirely by locals. Bluntly put, if I wanted to hang out with foreigners I’d have stayed in Western countries instead of coming to Southeast Asia. The gaggles of selfie-snapping tourists from the big cities aren’t my thing either. Secondly, I want a traditional local place, not some corporate, mass-produced experience, where customers queue up at a counter to be served with someone sporting a name tag who wishes them a nice day who definitely doesn’t care what kind of day I have. That’s what I was … [Read more...] about Make yourself at home in Vietnam

The German Communist Party (DKP) on May 10 issued a statement expressing its support for the lawsuit lodged by Vietnamese French Tran To Nga and Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims against 14 multinational chemical groups. Caring for children infected with AO/dioxin (Photo: VNA) In a statement sent to the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany and the Vietnam News Agency representative office in Berlin, the DKP stated that on May 10, a court in Evry city, Paris ruled that the case fell outside its jurisdiction. This ruling has once again ignored millions of Vietnamese who are suffering from serious consequences caused by the chemical war waged by the US troops during the war in Vietnam, it said, stressing that the party will continue bringing to light culprits behind the sufferings of Vietnamese victims. The DKP also affirmed its profound solidarity with Tran To Nga and AO victims in Vietnam. Earlier, the Bourdon & Associated law firm also vowed to accompany Nga … [Read more...] about German Communist Party backs Vietnamese AO victims