Youth opportunities vietnam

A video clip comprising a series of paintings by children on doctors, who are called intimately as white blouse warriors during the COVID-19 fight, has been published recently by the Ministry of Health.

The paintings by child artists are part of a campaign initiated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

They depict doctors as white-blouse soldiers who have relentlessly fought against the pandemic, through which children’s gratitude toward health workers is expressed.

The video also conveys a message of solidarity in the fight against COVID-19./.

110 foreign experts to be isolated for COVID-19 combat

The administration of Quang Ngai province, central Vietnam, has outlined plans to put a total of 110 foreign experts into isolation in concentrated places in an effort to prevent the potential spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The foreign experts are scheduled to pass though Huu Nghi international border gate in the northern province of Lang Son and then travel to Quang Ngai to work for Hoa Phat Dung Quat Iron and Steel Integrated Complex.

The provincial administration requested relevant agencies to create favourable condition for the experts during their travel and quarantine back in Quang Ngai.

At present, Quang Ngai is yet to record any positive COVID-19 cases this year, although local authorities have advised relevant agencies to closely control people entering from COVID-19 hotspots in the fight against the virus.

Cases that violate the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 prevention and control measures will be punished, whilst local medical workers will take samples for testing of relevant cases, especially foreigners currently working in Quang Ngai.

Daily Mail hails Vietnamese driver as hero after saving life of local girl

The Daily Mail newspaper of the UK has posted an article hailing the bravery of a local delivery driver who saved the life of a little girl falling from the balcony of an apartment complex in Hanoi.

According to the Daily Mail, Nguyen Ngoc Manh, 31, was sitting in his truck waiting to deliver a package in Hanoi on February 28 when he saw the toddler hanging from the balcony of a high-rise building and clinging to the edge with just one hand.

“The father-of one reacted instinctively and raced out of his car and climbed onto a tile roof at the bottom level of the building to get into a better position to be able to catch the girl”, the news outlines states.

“In a heart-stopping moment, video footage shows the two-year-old lose her grip before plunging to the ground from 164 feet – but somehow Manh was able to reach for the girl, who fell onto his lap”.

The Daily Mail added that Manh’s life has since been “turned upside down” after saving the toddler and he has received thousands of positive messages on various social media platforms.

Manh’s inspirational story has greatly impressed readers who offer their compliments and describe him as a “wonderful man”, a “real hero”, and a “great man”.

Quang Ninh opens local tourism

With the new wave of COVID-19 outbreak contained, the northern province of Quang Ninh officially reopened its tourism activities from 0:00 on March 2, starting with local tourists.

Travel firms and tourist sites are asked to ensure safety for visitors, and strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message of khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration).

Quang Ninh has put in place suitable measures to control those who come from pandemic-hit areas. It encourages all people coming to the locality to fill in health declarations.

The province creates favourable conditions for migrant workers to return the locality to work in the tourism and service sectors; however, they must follow the provincial Party Committee’s regulations on health declaration, quarantine, and testing, among others.

Ha Long, Uong Bi, Dong Trieu, Cam Pha and Quang Yen should apply necessary measures to ensure efficiency in COVID-19 prevention in the “new situation”.

As Van Don International Airport will resume operation on March 3, Quang Ninh province is outlining its new COVID-19 prevention process to ensure safety for the airport, its staff and the community.

About the reopening of bars and karaoke parlours, the local police are assigned to study and recommend the local People’s Committee on the time for the service resumption./.

VFF leaders nominated as candidates for NA election

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee has agreed to nominate Politburo member and President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man and member of the Party Central Committee and Vice President cum Secretary General of the VFF Central Committee Hau A Lenh as candidates for the upcoming election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly.

During a conference held in Hanoi on March 2, voters of the VFF Central Committee agreed that the two officials are qualified and meet the requirements of the Party’s regulations and the State’s law.

Earlier, on February 25, the VFF’s Party Delegation convened a meeting where participants also consented to the nominations.

Lenh pledged to, if elected, fulfill assigned tasks in line with Party and State’s regulations and uphold a sense of responsibility in building laws and policies, contributing to national development in line with the resolution adopted by the 13th National Party Congress.

He hoped to continue receiving support from voters to accomplish tasks in his capacity as a Party official./.

Another recovered COVID-19 patient in Hanoi test positive again

A COVID-19 patient in Hanoi has tested positive for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 again after being given the all-clear, it was reported on March 2.

Patient 1,958 was discharged from hospital on February 27 but after two days of home quarantine she tested positive for the virus on March 1.

This is the second such case in Hanoi, with the first being reported on February 25.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health Hoang Duc Hanh, Hanoi recorded no new local transmissions from February 16 to March 2.

The city’s authorities continue to collect samples from people arriving in the capital and those returning from pandemic-hit areas./.

HCM City’s police request prosecution of flight attendant for spreading COVID-19

The People’s Procuracy of Ho Chi Minh City on March 2 said it has received an investigation conclusion and other documents linked to a case of “spreading contagious disease to others” involving a 29-year-old flight attendant, who is Patient 1,342.

The Investigation Security Agency under the municipal Department of Public Security has requested the prosecution of Duong Tan Hau for spreading a dangerous contagious disease to others, under Article 240 of the 2015 Criminal Code.

Per the conclusion, on November 14, 2020, Hau and a Vietnam Airlines flight crew were tested for COVID-19 upon arrival in Vietnam from Japan and put under quarantine. With two negative test results, he was placed under quarantine at a rented apartment in HCM City’s Tan Binh district until November 28, 2020.

However, during this time, Hau left the apartment to meet two other flight attendants, who later tested positive for the virus.

Hau also left to meet a friend and take an English test at Hutech University. He tested positive on November 28, while his friend tested positive two days later.

The Investigation Security Agency said Hau’s activities caused both material and non-material damage. The material losses have been estimated to exceed 4.47 billion VND (193,800 USD), with the related quarantine affecting the lives of over 2,000 people in the city.

The agency has also sent a dispatch to competent agencies requesting the handling of Vietnam Airlines’ violations in quarantine organisation./.

Factories in Hải Dương Province to conduct routine COVID-19 testing for employees and managers

The Hải Dương Province management board of industrial zones (IZs) has asked enterprises in the locality to routinely test their employees and managers for COVID-19.

This is one of the requests set for the enterprises regarding production plans when the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.

According to the management board, factories at IZs in Kim Thành District can resume work but they must follow the Ministry of Health’s regulations on COVID-19 prevention.

Specifically, test results for all employees at the enterprises must show that they are negative. Enterprises must also regularly clean the environment, disinfect the workplace and dormitories (if any).

All staff must follow the Health Ministry’s 5K message: Khẩu trang (face mask) – Khử khuẩn (disinfection) – Khoảng cách (distance) – Không tụ tập (no gathering) – Khai báo y tế (health declaration).

It is necessary for enterprises to organise the supervision of compliance with pandemic prevention rules.

The enterprises are urged to set up a focus point to contact the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Kim Thành District when epidemiological factors emerge to coordinate, even when in doubt.

Owners of factories are responsible for COVID-19 prevention and control work at their establishments and take responsibility before the law for the emergence of the pandemic due to subjective factors.

For enterprises with employees who test positive for COVID-19, they are requested to urgently take samples from those who haven’t been tested.

It’s a must for enterprises to make a business plan associated with the prevention and control of the pandemic. Coordination with local authorities to review and thoroughly handle the disease risk factors in businesses or from employees is also included in the plan. They should submit a report to the provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control for approval before resuming operation.

Employees are ordered to sign documents with the local authorities affirming their commitment to COVID-19 safety.

Businesses involved in the trading of infrastructure at industrial zones are responsible for coordinating with relevant agencies to monitor enterprises in IZs to comply with the regulations on pandemic prevention and control.

After 15 days of stringent province-wide lockdown measures, the northern province of Hải Dương will lift some restrictions in certain areas on Wednesday (March 3) as the COVID-19 outbreaks are gradually being brought under control.

It will shift to a new status, both drastically fighting the coronavirus and taking action to carry out socio-economic development tasks, according to a decision made by the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee at a meeting on Monday.

Sine the coronavirus broke out in Hải Dương province on January 27, the province has recorded 684 COVID-19 local infections, becoming the largest outbreak in the country.

Hải Dương authorities agreed to divide the localities in the province into two groups under different restrictions depending on the COVID-19 risks.

Four high-risk localities, including Hải Dương City, Kinh Môn township, Cẩm Giàng District and Kim Thành, will be placed under the Government’s Directive 15, the highest level of social distancing first introduced in March last year when the country entered nationwide lockdown. The remaining eight localities in the province will follow the less restrictive Government’s Directive 19 on social distancing norms.

Hải Dương will continue to halt festivals, religious rituals, sporting events and other unimportant events that require large gatherings in public.

Service venues – retail/wholesale trading shops, shopping malls, markets, supermarkets, hotels, accommodation facilities, etc. – can resume operations, but must observe COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Phạm Xuân Thăng said that, from March 3, Hải Dương would carry out 10 groups of anti-COVID-19 solutions and five groups of socio-economic development solutions.

As the outbreak may return, the entire local political system would not lower its guard and will remain on alert and be stringent in the fight, he stated.

Youth committee urges integration of youth affairs into policy making

Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam (NCYV), Nguyen Anh Tuan, urged ministries and governmental agencies to integrate youth affairs into policy making during the committee’s 32nd meeting in Hanoi on March 2.

The NCYV closely coordinated in the drafting of the revised Youth Law, which received approval from the National Assembly last year. It also completed the implementation of the 2011-2020 strategy for Vietnamese youth development and has developed a strategy for the next 10 years.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said youth affairs have played an important part in the activities of governmental organisations. Most ministries and governmental agencies have launched programmes for youth, including a cultural ambassador programme as well as conferences and seminars on startups and innovation.

As Chair of ASEAN 2020, Vietnam advocated the inclusion of youth-related content in the Chairman’s Statement of the 37th ASEAN Summit, he said.

Tuan said the committee will continue coordinating with relevant bodies to develop and propose youth-related policies, and will supervise the enforcement of the revised Youth Law and the 2020-2030 strategy for youth development.

He also called for an increase in information exchange between the committee and other organisations regarding youth affairs./.

Task of designing science-technology organisation network planning approved

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has signed a decision approving the task of making planning for the science-technology organisation network in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050.

The major objectives of the planning include concretising the Party and State’s policies and laws on science and technology development and innovation, and connecting relevant sectors and regions in line with the national master planning.

A network of science and technology organisations will be formed in an open and flexible manner with suitable scale and structure to meet the goal of comprehensively and synchronously promoting the cause of national reform, industrialisation and modernisation.

Meanwhile, the planning will serve as a foundation for the building of a middle-term public investment plan across the nation in the field of science and technology as well as the mobilisation of resources from the community in developing the network, towards the complete autonomy of State-owned science and technology organisations.

Under the decision, the natural conditions, resources and situation of the science and technology organisation network nationwide will be analysed and evaluated, along with connectivity of sectors and regions in the development of the network.

At the same time, opportunities and challenges in building the planning will be defined, together with the list of important projects for investment priority./.

Photos call on ethnic minority people to take action against COVID-19

The Ministry of Health and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have called on people to take action to prevent COVID-19 pandemic for sustainable economic development through a photo series about the lives of ethnic minority traders in the northern mountain province of Ha Giang.

The photo series is part of a project on strengthening communication about COVID-19 prevention in the new normal for small businesses run by ethnic minorities in the province.

The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, UNDP in Vietnam and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam with an aim of implementing sustainable development goals towards fairness and equality in healthcare among ethnic groups in the country. It includes a series of communication activities that aim to enhance knowledge, understanding and changes in action and habits of people to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among ethnic minorities.

The project’s activities have approached a large number of local officials, health workers, trade unions and small traders in four districts of Meo Vac, Dong Van, Quan Ba and Yen Minh, and Ha Giang city.

The project helped local authorities have more essential resources to conduct disease prevention and control and provide local people, especially ethnic traders, with access to healthcare services and knowledge about disease prevention methods.

This will help to reduce the negative effects of COVID-19, so that people can continue to develop economically and sustainably, stabilise their lives and overcome difficulties such as farmland shortages, lack of domestic water and harsh natural conditions.

The series of photos was taken in late 2020 and early 2021 in four highlands districts: Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh and Quang Ba, which are the poorest localities and the most inhabited by Mong ethnic people. The series displays the daily work of traders, especially when they have taken preventive measures for protecting the health and safety of each individual and the community.

As part of the project, ethnic minorities of Dong Van district were given knowledge and provided with practical guidance on pandemic prevention and control.

With the support of local health workers, people have started disease prevention activities, such as wearing masks, washing hands with antiseptic, sanitising their homes and ensuring personal hygiene in work and daily life.

The photo series also showed local people in tourism development associated with preserving and promoting national cultural values./.

Kien Giang hoping to soon put Cai Lon – Cai Be irrigation system into operation

Extra efforts are being made to quickly complete the first phase of the Cai Lon – Cai Be irrigation system in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang to better serve local life and production.

Connecting the Cai Lon River to the Cai Be River, the project is expected to improve agriculture and aquaculture production, control salinity, fight the effects of climate change, and provide freshwater for An Minh and An Bien districts during periods of low rainfall.

Construction of the first phase of the project, scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, is taking place in Chau Thanh district on 54.5 ha, with funding of 3.3 trillion VND (143.3 million USD).

According to deputy head of the Irrigation Work Investment and Construction Management Board No 10, Ha Duc Hanh, the Cai Be sewer was put into operation on February 5, several months ahead of schedule, thus helping control saltwater intrusion on over 20,000 ha of agricultural land.

The sewer helps the province save on the cost of building over 150 temporary dams and contributes to reducing environmental pollution caused by the building of such dams.

Ninety-five percent of work is completed, with the remainder to be done by June.

Meanwhile, 75 percent of work on Cai Lon sewer and 40 percent of work on Xeo Ro sewer are completed. Construction is to fully finish in September and October, respectively./.

Population database: Turning point in building e-gov’t

The national population database launched recently is the most important of six national databases helping to form an e-government, a digital society, and a digital economy. The introduction of the database reflects the Government’s determination to shift from paper-based to electronic document management.

After a year of implementation, the national database on population now integrates national citizen IDs, birth registrations, death confirmations, and household registration book systems, removing unnecessary administrative procedures.

The Ministry of Public Security has basically completed the collection of national population information and moving data from the old system to the new system. All information gathered serves the production, issuance, and management of citizen’s ID cards.

The Ministry of Public Security aims at completing the national database on population and ID card issuance and management by July 1./.

Vietnamese audiences get chance to view seven French movies

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has granted permission for the screening of French movies throughout the country.

The films will be screened in 10 cities and provinces nationwide, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Lao Cai, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and Can Tho.

The Ministry also noted that screenings will only take place once the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has fully been brought under control in localities. In addition, relevant preventive measures must also be observed.

Activities held nationwide for Youth Month 2021

A wide variety of practical activities have been held across the country in response to Youth Month 2021 and in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26).

The Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union launched a volunteer programme in order to ensure safety and hygiene in the context of the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of the Central Agencies Bloc in coordination with the Thai Nguyen Provincial Youth Union launched a tree planting festival in Dai Tu District, Thai Nguyen Province, on February 28.

On the occasion, the two units also presented gifts worth a total of over VND200 million to policy beneficiary families and disadvantaged students in the district.

A volunteer programme has been launched by the municipal Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to educate young people about the revolutionary tradition.

The Hanoi Municipal Youth Union launched a tree planting festival in Soc Son District, Hanoi.

At the festival, the organising board donated 6,000 green trees worth nearly VND300 million, along with a social house worth VND50 million to a policy beneficiary family in the district.

The Bac Giang Provincial Youth Union began the construction of Ben Mong Bridge in Luc Nam District. The bridge has a total cost of about VND2 billion. Once completed, the bridge is expected to help local people travel quickly and safely.

A number of similar meaning events were also held byyouth unions in the central city of Da Nang, the northernmountainous province of Lai Chau and the southern province of Dong Nai, as part of the activities to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Localities host assorted cultural activities throughout March

A wide range of cultural activities are being held through March in localities across the country, in accordance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

From March 1-3, the Vietnam Women’s Union Central Committee is hosting an Ao Dai Week, encouraging the union’s members, particularly those who are officials, civil servants and businesswomen, to wear the traditional long dress at workplaces or while attending events.

* A programme entitled ‘A Little Spring’ is taking place at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in the Dong Mo tourism area of Son Tay town, Hanoi from March 1 to 31, featuring the participation of nearly 100 people from 14 ethnic groups in 12 cities and provinces nationwide.

The programme features art performances, cuisine events, a singing contest, exhibitions and the screening of documentaries on the country’s seas and islands.

The scale of the activities is dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic situation. If the pandemic breaks out in the locality during March or in Hanoi, activities will be restricted such as limiting the concentration of people, ensuring safety and taking other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Under the second plan, if the pandemic is completely under control in March, the programme will be fully implemented and all activities will go ahead as scheduled in order to attract tourists to the village.

* The History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City has decided to introduce to the public its collections of valuable objects through an online exhibition on the museum’s official website at www.baotanglichsutphcm.com.vn.

By clicking the link, viewers can access images of antiques with detailed information on each.

* The Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies in coordination with the British Council recently announced a series of 12 art and cultural events taking place from March 5 to 21 in many locations across Vietnam.

The events include a visual art exhibition in Da Nang city, a multisensory puppet show in Ninh Binh province, a series of workshops on art for children in Dak Lak province and Ho Chi Minh City, film screenings and arts projects in Hanoi, and a week of culture and creativity in Hai Phong city.

Tourism campaign clip hits a million views

A fortnight after being posted on YouTube on February 11, a tourism promotion clip entitled “Vietnam – Destination of culture and cuisine” (Vietnam – Điểm đến Văn hóa và Ẩm thực”) has received more than a million views. The campaign was launched by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in partnership with Google and VinPearl.

It also brings a warm and touching atmosphere of reunion during the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, featuring traditional cultural activities such as calligraphy, flower orchards in full bloom, and bustling markets.

The growing interest shows the appeal of YouTube in promoting the beauty of Vietnam.

It is also consistent with the tourism sector’s orientation towards increasing the promotion of Vietnamese tourism on digital platforms, thereby inspiring tourists in the context of tourism activities being seriously hit by COVID-19./.

Yen Bai has first model new-style rural commune

Tuy Loc commune in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai is now a recognised model new-style rural area, making it the first commune in the northern province to obtain the accreditation.

After meeting the new style rural standard in 2014, Tuy Loc had worked on getting the advanced title. To date, it has effectively implemented 48 economic development projects, with its per capita income reaching 56 million VND in 2020, 1.5 times higher than that set by the new-style rural standard for the year. Currently, there is no poor household in the commune.

Chairman of the Tuy Loc People’s Committee Nguyen Minh Tuan said key tasks for the time to come include restructuring agriculture in association with building new-style rural building, as well as promoting technological application and green technologies.

After a ceremony to announce the recognition on March 1, work began on the construction of a road connecting Tuy Loc’s dyke to its centre. The project costs 14.5 billion VND and is scheduled to be fully operational in October.

The national target programme on building new-styled rural areas was initiated by the Government in 2010 with the aim of developing rural regions. The list of criteria includes the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacity, environmental protection, and the promotion of cultural values./.

V.League 1 set to restart on March 13

The 2021 V.League 1 season is scheduled to see the return of matches on March 13, providing that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic stays under control nationwide.

According to the updated fixture list, the remaining five matches from the third round of games will be held on March 13 and March 14, as set out by the Vietnam Professional Football JSC (VPF).

The season will see all teams play at least 10 games before April 18. They will then take a temporary break to allow time for the Vietnamese national football team to meet ahead of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Elsewhere, the V.League 2 season will begin on March 19, with the first match set to be between hosts Can Tho FC and the People’s Public Security FC.

The 13 rounds of the opening half of the V.League 2 season are scheduled to last until July 24.

The “connection” between traditional and modern music

In recent years, Vietnamese music lovers have witnessed the birth of many works combining traditional and modern music.

The video “Xam Hanoi”, which shows young singer Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha (Ha Myo)’s love for the capital city through Xam (ballads sung by wandering blind musicians), was one outstanding example. This is the first time the traditional Xam art of song was perfectly combined with rap and electronic music and modern choreography, creating a new music product bearing the charm and beauty of folk culture while featuring the freshness of the modern arts. The video “Xam Hanoi” has rapidly received a warm response from a large number of young music listeners after arrived in the digital environment. This is on example highlighting the “connection” between modern and traditional music.

Young artist Ngo Hong Quang is also a remarkable face possessesing many works that exploit the rich traditions of music from around the country. He has finished an album entitled “Tinh dan” featuring many indigenous music styles of Vietnam. Earlier, singers such as Hoang Thuy Linh and Bich Phuong also made their marks with pop songs imbued with folk music or inspired by traditional culture. It can be seen that this feature of traditional music in composition has become a trend for many young artists over recent years, contributing to a new wind affecting contemporary musical life. This composition trend is considered a rope connecting modern music lovers with traditional music. It has not only brought about a new style but also highlighted Vietnamese identities in contemporary music.

On the contrary, many traditional art works now feature modern musical elements to conquer young audiences. One highlight is the Cai Luong (reformed opera) and circus play entitled “Cay gay than” (Magic stick) by the Vietnam Cai Luong Theatre and Vietnam Circus Federation. The play was an audacious experience as the familiar Cai Luong ancient songs were added to a background of jazz music and featured the appearance of rap music in some scenes. All have created an interesting “opening” for Cai Luong that is not only admired young people but has also surprised veteran artists.

The newly released play “Son Hau – Beyond The Mountain” by young directors Nguyen Quoc Hoang Anh and Ha Nguyen Long has also rejuvenated the ancient art of Tuong (classical drama) through attractive performances of hip hop dance on a background of electronic sounds. This exploitation of modern music is a way to bring traditional arts and music closer to young audiences as well as preserving and promoting traditional music values that are at risk of degradation over times.

Obviously, the reciprocal combination of modern and traditional elements in music has not only made both art forms newer and more impressive but also opened potential trends for the future, towards a new world of contemporary arts imbued with national identities. This is also a way for Vietnamese music to define itself among international friends. This mission belongs to both traditional and modern artists. However, it is not an easy “path” for artists who have a great passion for the arts and who also dare to deviate. Because, in fact, not any old combination creates the right “fit”. An inappropriate mix of modern and traditional elements can make art works rude and objectionable. The unreasonable exploitation of ancient materials can also easily cause distortions of tradition. Creators must thus have a deep understanding of each art form so that they will not blur one another. The successes of various art works using this combination in recent years was in part due to the participation of experts having strengths in each form. With an in-depth understanding of each field, they support and adjust together, helping the works avoid crossing the delicate line between creativity and objection. Thereby, they will enhance the value of the country’s music in particular and the arts in general.

Binh Duong deports 11 Chinese nationals for illegal entry

The law enforcement agencies of Binh Duong Province today, March 1, extradited 11 Chinese nationals who had entered Vietnam illegally to the northern province of Lang Son to deport them in line with prevailing regulations.

The 11 Chinese nationals were quarantined for 14 days and have tested negative for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to the provincial law enforcement agencies.

On February 8, the police of Di An City in Binh Duong Province discovered 13 Chinese nationals disembarking from a passenger coach in Binh Thang Ward, Thanh Nien Online reported.

The 13 people were identified as entering the country illegally as they failed to show their entry papers. They were sent to the general clinic in An Binh Ward for quarantine.

During their quarantine period, two of the 13 Chinese nationals escaped from the clinic.

HCMC allocates over US$1 million preferential loans for social house buyers

Ho Chi Minh City authorities decided to allocate VND25 billion (US$1,086,220) preferential loans for buyers of social houses.

Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan has just signed a decision to allocate money for the preferential loan program for buying and renting social houses of this year.

The program is also for those who ask for loans for repairing their own houses according to the government’s decree 100/2015.

Directors of branches of Vietnam Bank for Social Policies in districts and Thu Duc City submitted their credit plan as per the decision for further implementation.

Additionally, Directors of Vietnam Bank for Social Policies branches will be responsible for allocation and supervision of implementation procedure to ensure the money is used effectively.

New schedule unveiled for domestic leagues and National Cup

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the Vietnam Professional Football JSC (VPF) have agreed to resume the V.League 1 season in March and April, whilst both the V.League 2 and National Cup will also start after being delayed for the COVID-19 fight.

The V.League 1 season will return on either March 13 or March 19 before concluding on September 19.

Furthermore, the V.League 2 will kick off on March 20 and finish on September 18. At the end of the season, a play-off match will be held between the second-place team of the V.League 2 and the bottom team in the V.League 1, with the loser playing in the V.League 2 in the 2022 season.

The National Cup will also launch its qualifying round on April 23. With the tournament scheduled to end on September 30, this will allow the national U22 team plenty of time to prepare for qualifiers for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship and the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. In addition, the senior team will be preparing for qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in the Asian region and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup.

The national team will therefore participate in a one-week training camp from May 22 to May 29 before going on to compete in the remaining qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.

It is also possible that the Vietnamese team will hold an additional training camp between April 21 and May 7 due to a break in the V.League 1 season to allow Viettel FC to compete in the group stages of the AFC Champions League.

At present, Vietnam are currently leading Group G with 11 points, followed by Malaysia with nine points, Thailand with eight points, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with six points, and Indonesia who are bottom with zero points.

The national team are scheduled to compete in three matches as part of the current qualifying process, with ties against Indonesia on June 7, Malaysia on June 11, and the UAE on June 15.

Students in Dong Thap Province’s border districts continue taking a week off

In the midst of the current complicated Covid-19 pandemic situation in the border area of Dong Thap Province, the People’s Committee of Dong Thap Province this morning decided to allow students of kindergartens, high schools and vocational training schools in the border districts of Hong Ngu, Tan Hong and Hong Ngu City to stay at home one more week from March 1 to March 6.

Currently, all suspected cases are strictly conducting quarantine requirements in Dong Thap Province and Can Tho City.

Dong Thap province authorities have been urgently searching for two remaining F1 cases related to patient No.2424; and tracing F2 cases being isolated at home according to regulations.

Previously, a 24-year-old woman from Can Tho City working in a casino in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh and another woman illegally immigrated to Vietnam through the border gate in Tan Hong District of Dong Thap Province on February 23. They were seen at a hostel at Sa Rai Town, Tan Hong District and were promptly sent to a quarantine ward for SARS-CoV-2 testing on the same day.

Two days later, the former woman became the patient No. 2424 with SARS-CoV-2 positive result from HCMC-based Pasteur Institute and the rest one was negative for SARS-CoV-2.

VIWASE proposes one more water plant for Hanoi’s water supply

It is necessary to soon approve the adjustment for water supply planning in Hanoi, which will contribute to completing the target that all people in the city’s rural areas will be able to use clean water by 2025.

The Vietnam Water, Sanitation and Environment Joint Stock Company (VIWASE) has proposed to build Xuan Mai water plant in the northern province of Hoa Binh.

The project, expected to be listed in the city’s water supply planning, will supply water for Hoa Binh and Hanoi’s southern districts.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Construction Hoang Cao Thang, the project is one of the VIWASE’s proposals sent to his department to adjust water supply planning in order to improve water access to people in Hanoi.

It is necessary to soon approve the adjustment for water supply planning in Hanoi, which will contribute to completing the target that all people in the city’s rural areas will be able to use clean water by 2025, said an expert in water supply.

Le Van Du, deputy head of Technical Infrastructure under the Hanoi Department of Construction, said that currently the total capacity of safe water sources in the city is 1,520,000 cubic meters per day, which is still short of 210,000m3 per day in accordance with the city’s water supply planning to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

The total capacity of clean water sources is only enough to serve people in Hanoi’s downtown and surrounding areas. Only about 10-35% of people in rural areas have access to tap water which is mainly supplied by rural concentrated clean water purifiers.

Hanoi strives to supply clean water for 100% of population living downtown, in satellite urban areas and rural districts by 2030.

Besides, Hanoi will ensure safe and sustainable water supply to adapt to climate change, so that water supplied to urban and rural areas meets the Ministry of Health’s standards on drinkable water.

Promote tourism through the book “Explore Vietnam”

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has recently introduced a travel guide book entitled “Kham pha Vietnam” (Explore Vietnam).

The “Kham pha Vietnam” book is copyrighted by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and printed by Thanh Nien (Youth) Publishing House.

This 165-page book is divided into 12 main content sections, introducing famous tourist destinations and renown sightseeing within Vietnam, including: the Hanoi capital, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue city (Thua Thien – Hue province),. Sa Pa Town (Lao Cai province), the Dong Van rock plateau (Ha Giang province), Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province), Ninh Binh city (Ninh Binh province), Hoi An ancient town (Quang Nam province), Da Lat city (Lam Dong province), coastal city of Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), Vung Tau city (Ba Ria – Vung Tau province), Phu Quoc island (Kien Giang province) and the beauty landscapes surrounding these destinations.

Each part of the book not only introduces readers the beautiful natural landscape, unique culture and rich cuisine, but also depicts the friendly and peaceful lifestyle of local residents.

In addition to useful information, the book also attracts readers with vividly beautiful images that are captured by professional photographers.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism expects this useful and well-prepared publication will help travelers to map out their itineraries when visiting Vietnam.

March will be eventful month with loads of cultural activities

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day on March 8 and International Day of Happiness on March 20, Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism will run a series of activities themed “Little Spring” for the whole month.

The cultural activities will draw the participation of nearly 100 non-professional artists and people from 14 ethnic groups in 12 provinces and cities throughout the nation such as Thai Nguyen, Hanoi, Ha Giang, Son La, Hoa Binh, Nghe An, Thua Thien – Hue, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Ninh Thuan, Dak Lak and Soc Trang.

The event themed “the Spring in the Muong Village” features an artistic show of Muong ethnic dances and songs; an ethnic gastronomic demonstration with dishes prepared from Ban Flower (Bauhinia) and a photo exhibition of beautiful girls from Thai ethnic group with Ban flowers.

At the exhibition “Our homeland’s islands”, visitors will watch photos, documentary films and artifacts related to the sea and islands of Vietnam, especially the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (Paracel & Spratly) islands while at the music show titled  “Love Songs from the Sea”, they will be told about the lives of the marines, their bravery and willing to sacrifice for Vietnam’s territorial water protection.

On weekends, there will be a cultural event called “The Central Highlands in March – I’m the P’lang flower”, including songs and dances on the spring, which praise the beauty of nature, culture and people of the Central Highlands.

In addition, spring festivals,  homestay travel programs, culinary experiences, and folk games will also be held on weekdays and weekends to introduce the culture and customs of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam.

These cultural activities are aimed at promoting cultural exchange among ethnic groups in Vietnam as well as attracting more tourists to the National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.

Hanoi urges to accelerate zoning plan for Red river

Developments along the Red river will play an important role in driving Hanoi’s future.

Hanoi needs to remove obstacles to accelerate the zoning plan of the riparian areas on both sides of the Red river that runs through the city, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue said at a meeting last week.

Hue said that Hanoi needs to complete the zoning plans, including the plan on both sides of the Red river and making full use of the land resources in the riparian areas along the river banks.

As the zoning plan has not been devised, land resources in Hanoi have not been made full use of. No one wants to make long-term investments in the riparian areas as winning bidders are only entitled to the land usufruct for five years.

Hue emphasized that planning the Red river will make resources in terms of land, landscape and environment to become fulcrum for the capital city’s development.

“The riparian areas in Dan Phuong and Hoai Duc districts are immense but left fallow. There is a large riparian area in Hoan Kiem district which has been left unused because of the lack of a zoning plan,” Hue said.

Under the futuristic zoning plan, the riparian areas will become ecological urban areas. About 900,000 local residents along both sides of the river will be able to make a living when the plan is carried out.

In order to remove obstacles for the zoning plan, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue had a working session with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on July, 2020.

Currently, the city is actively working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to map out the anti-flood plan and submit it to the National Assembly and the prime minister.

In recent years, Hanoi has prepared infrastructure for the eventual urban development in the riparian areas by building bridges crossing the Red river.

Most recently, the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture has made public the architecture plan of Tu Lien bridge, connecting Dong Anh district and Tay Ho district.

The municipal government is also considering two options of either to build Tran Hung Dao bridge or a tunnel crossing the Red river to link Hoan Kiem and Long Bien districts.

According to Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Duong Duc Tuan, the Red River planning project is built based the study of the section of about 40 kilometers along the river, from Hong Ha bridge to Me So bridge. The plan will cover an area of about 11,000 hectares in 13 districts.

Tuan stressed that the completion of the 1:2000 scale zoning plan of the riparian areas on both sides of the Red river the section running through the city is a great progress after a long time of suspension pending.

Reading Culture Ambassador Contest 2021 launched

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues a guidance for the organization of the 2021 Reading Culture Ambassador Contest.

Focusing on pupils and students, the contest aimed to inspire the passion for reading among youth, thereby, help fostering the reading culture within the community.

The contest is conducted with two rounds, in which the preliminary round is launched in provinces and cities, higher educational institutions and the Vietnam Education Publishing House from February 2021 to July 31, 2021.

For the final round, entries will be submitted to the Organizing Board before August 5, 2021. The awarding ceremony to honor the Ambassador of Reading Culture will be held by the end of October 2021.

The Vietnam Blind Association is in charge of organizing the preliminary round among the visually impaired people.

In recent years, under the government’s project of “Fostering a reading culture within community, with an orientation to 2030” a wide range of activities for spreading and developing the reading culture have been held in nationwide.

The Reading Culture Ambassador Contest has become an annual cultural activity, attracting wide appreciation and interest from the community and gaining positive outcomes.

It not only honors the reading culture, contributes to the creation of a ‘learning society’, but also serves as an opportunity for people to improve their understanding of the rich national culture.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes

Vuko Kralj was awestruck by the sight of vibrant blooms flooding local markets and streets at Tet (Lunar New Year) time during his first trip to Vietnam in 2013. He also remembers how people dressed in the traditional ao dai were having their pictures taken.

But awed as he was, it was only when Kralj moved to work in Vietnam that he realized the deep significance of Tet for Vietnamese people.

After living in the country for many years, the general manager of Azerai Resort Can Tho in Can Tho City is still struck by the reverse migration of youth from cities to the countryside to celebrate the Lunar New Year with their parents and other relatives.

Vuko Kraji’s favorite thing about Tet is multigenerational family gatherings.

Today, one of his favorite activities every year is welcoming multi-generational groups of guests traveling after the third day of Tet . “I am truly moved when I see the care and respect that the younger generations show towards their parents and the elderly,” he said.

For Anthony Slewka, director of sales at Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi, the most treasured memory of Tet took place in 2015.

That year, Anthony was invited to a local family’s gathering in the outskirts of Hanoi on the first day of the Lunar New Year. He had the opportunity then to individually greet every household in the area, sip herbal tea and exchange anecdotes with the hosts.

“The one detail that struck me was how the layout of a house is very traditional. All spaces are open with a distinctive, separate, formal area for the ancestral altar. The TV is typically placed in the center of the house,” he recalled.

Meanwhile, Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, general manager of Alma Resort Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa Province, likes the jubilance Vietnamese display in saying goodbye to the old year and greeting the new one.

Pichler finds some similarity in Tet being a time for family gatherings and reunions and Christmas time in Austria, where he comes from.

In the 15 years that he has lived and worked in Vietnam, Pichler has created many Tet memories with his second family, the resort staff. Together, they decorate the resort, organize festive events and prepare scrumptious meals to welcome tourists to their “collective abode.”

Adam Calver, director of golf and destination marketing at Laguna Lang Co resort complex in Thua Thien-Hue Province, gained memories for a lifetime with his first Tet in Vietnam.

Many years ago after his arrival in the country, Calver was invited to participate in traditional Tet activities where he learned a lot about cultural practices like lucky money ( li xi ).

He likes how the country as a whole vibrates with excitement and elation during Tet . Though the official holiday spans just three days, the celebrations last a week or even longer.

Calver recommends Vietnam to his friends as a great travel destination at Tet time. “All the long-standing customs and traditions are amazing. Tet is an essential holiday that needs to be experienced in person in order to fully grasp just how interesting and thrilling it is,” he said.

Tet , which peaked on Feb. 12 this year, gets romantic at Laguna Lang Co in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam.

Young people in HCM City take part in a project to plant trees in Đắk Nông Province. — Photo sggp.org.vn

Tree-planting projects to protect the environment have become increasingly popular among young people from HCM City.

Their projects have not only contributed to increasing forest coverage on barren hills but also brought economic benefits to local people.

The project ‘Garden-Forest’ was launched by JOY (Journey Of Youth) – a volunteer group in collaboration with the group named ‘Planting one million trees per year’ and Bù Gia Mập National Park to plant trees on farmers’ land in Central Highlands provinces.

The volunteers have also worked with agricultural experts to teach organic farming techniques to farmers, helping them have a stable income.

Before planting trees, the young people studied the local climate and soil to choose suitable trees and lived with the farmers to understand the steps for planting.

Trúc Nguyên, a 19-year-old member of the project from Bình Thạnh District, told Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper: “This is the first time I know how to start a tree nursery and plant trees. It was quite hard work for the first time gardening but we are happy.”

Volunteers chose the rainy season to run the project to reduce the need for irrigation water.

During a field trip, they also visited Gia Ân mangosteen farm, which has been granted a Global Good Agriculture Practices (GlobalGAP) certificate in Đắk Nông Province and listened to an agricultural expert who has worked at the farm for 20 years.

“I know many green and afforestation projects but I still have not participated. These projects have just been rolled out once and don’t have a long-term plan or seedlings management,” said Đặng Khải An, a 21-year-old volunteer from Phú Nhuận District.

“I decided to join this project because I not only want to contribute to planting more trees, but I also want to learn how to garden. Planting trees is very interesting.”

Hồ Thắng, the founder of the group ‘Planting one million trees a year’, said the group was established last year and has planted 15,000 trees in Đắk Nông Province.

“The trees are more than 2m high and grow well. The number of dead trees accounts for about 1 per cent only,” said Thắng.

“In 2021, the group will plant vetiver grass in bare hills. This plant helps to stabilise the soil and protect it against erosion and also provides moisture to other plants.”

With support from Gia Ân farm and Bù Gia Mập National Park, the volunteers have chosen a number of suitable plants that can be planted in local families’ gardens.

No one understands the forests better than the local farmers.

Afforestation brings economic efficiency and it will help farmers maintain and replicate this model, according to Thắng.

In addition to the support of friends and online communities, the main source of funding for the group is helping young people start a business from agriculture and using some of the profits to buy seedlings.

“I just want to contribute a part of my efforts to planting trees for the land in the Central Highlands, returning the green that was lost due to deforestation for cultivation,” said Thắng.

Ministry helps the poor and policy beneficiaries enjoy Tet

Various activities to support the poor and policy beneficiaries have been instigated by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs during Tet.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said they had done their best to ensure that no one would be left behind despite the on-going pandemic. The ministry issued an official document in January asking localities authorities to have plans to visit and provide support to needy people.

Decision 7 issued by the state president on January 11 stated that over 1.6 million people who had contributed during the wars will be given VND300,000 (USD13) to VND600,000 each. According to the ministry, besides this financial support, localities would also use their own budgets to help.

Hanoi spent VND106bn (USD4,600) to help policy beneficiaries. VND383bn in HCM City, VND86bn in Thai Binh, VND60bn in Thanh Hoa and VND90bn in Quang Nam. And Quang Tri VND1.2trn was provided to support disadvantaged children, Long An spent VND2.4bn, An Giang spent VND1.3bn, Ca Mau and Bac Ninh spent a total of VND1.2bn and VND838m respectively.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs worked with the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front, Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and Vietnam Red Cross to send 12,000 gifts worth VND14.1trn (USD611m) to poor and policy beneficiaries to help them celebrate the Tet Holiday.

HCM City expands testing to find more community cases

The authorities in HCM City have started testing the employees working at bus stations, shopping centres and rental areas after the outbreak at Tan Son Nhat Airport was controlled.

The tests were immediately carried out on February 11. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said that the outbreak in HCM City was different from the outbreaks in other provinces and cities.

“We have F1 patients whose tests are negative but F2 patients whose tests were positive. It’s possible that the F2 patients weren’t infected from F1 patients but from other undetected cases in the community,” he said.

After meeting with the Department of Health and the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention, Son agreed to carry out tests in vulnerable areas. They want to make sure that there will be no more major outbreaks like the Tan Son Nhat Airport cases. Any new outbreak needed to be found and controlled in time to prevent further spreading.

Antibody tests have been started to be implemented by HCM City CDC and HCM City Pasteur Institute. 30,000 quick test kits will be provided to HCM City soon.

Nguyen Tan Binh, director of the Department of Health said a suspected case was detected after tests were carried out among the families of the employees at Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company Limited on the last day of the lunar December.

“After the expanded testing we’ll have more data to analyse the potential risks in the community. Antibody and gene sequencing analysis will reveal which virus variant is spreading in HCM City,” he said.

The Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention said they had basically controlled the outbreaks. Expanded testing will help make a better picture and lead to the most suitable solution.

Vietnam to raise rate of trained workers to 40% by 2030

Vietnam targets raising the proportion of trained workers to 35-40 % by 2030 under a support programme for labour market development newly issued by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Overall, the programme aims to provide a strong premise for comprehensively developing the labour market; effectively mobilising, distributing, and utilising resources to boost socio-economic growth; shift to a modernised labour structure; and promote links between the domestic labour market and those of the region and the world.

Its objectives are to increase the number of workers with labour market-relevant skills and raise the number of trained workers to 30 % by 2025 and 30-45 % by 2030.

Under the programme, Vietnam expects to be among the top 60 countries in the Knowledge Workers sub-pillar of the Global Innovation Index (GII) by 2025 and among the top 55 by 2030. The country also sets having 80 % of its workforce possess IT skills by 2025 and 90 % by 2030, while reducing the rate of young adults unemployed or untrained to below 8 %.

To this end, the country plans to improve the relevant legal framework to bolster the development of the labour market; support the development of labour supply and demand, a labour market database, social welfare and insurance, and a specialised labour market; and promote links between the domestic and foreign labour markets.

It will also develop a set of indicators measuring the development of the labour market compared with the regional and global markets, and evaluate the labour gap between regions.

PM pays Tet visit to Da Nang armed forces

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of the armed forces in Da Nang pose for a picture

At the Da Nang Border Guard High Command, the Government leader extended Lunar New Year (Tet) wishes to the force, the municipal military high command, the police, and Military Zone 5. He also offered incense to President Ho Chi Minh at his statue in the city.

After listening to a report on the performance of the armed forces of the city in 2020, PM Phuc lauded the efforts that the forces made amid difficulties from complicated development of COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

Highlighting the engagement of soldiers and public security officers in search and rescue activities during the devastating natural disasters last year, he stressed that thanks to the strong endeavours of the forces, the local living conditions have been ensured with no one left behind.

As Da Nang is an area of national strategic significance, local armed forces should remain vigilant and prepare specific plans to respond any circumstance, he said, asking the forces to modernise themselves in the time to come.

Last year, the armed forces in Da Nang showed strong performance in protecting national security and defence, social safety and order, safeguarding the borderline and combating trans-border criminal as well as trade fraud, while supporting locals in overcoming consequences of natural disasters. Local public security officers successfully protected security during the 13th National Party Congress and before the upcoming general election.

Also on February 12, PM Phuc visited and presented Tet gifts to officials at the People’s Committee of Hai Chau district and the People’s Committee of Thuan Phuoc ward./.

Daffodil dazzles Hanoians in Tet holiday

Flower arrangement has long been popular among Vietnamese people on the occasion of Lunar New Year (or Tet) holiday.

Besides the renowned peach blossoms, daffodils are also popular among Hanoians for home decoration during Tet holiday.

Not as radiant as other flowers, daffodils, have an elegant look with a lovely scent.

It is widely believed that if they bloom during New Year’s Eve, daffodils will bring owners good luck. Some people spends hours enjoying the flowers on the last night of the year.

Enjoying daffodils has been Hanoians’ custom for a long time. For many living in the capital, daffodil pruning is like a ticket to the past, letting them enjoy the atmosphere of Tet holiday from years ago.

For ancient Hanoians, daffodil symbolises luck and longevity. On Tet holiday, the flower’s flavour mingled with the scent of aloes wood incenses creates a cozy atmosphere.

Daffodils’ swaths of yellow, white and orange trumpets brighten every corner of flower markets and dazzle both shop keepers and customers./.

Lao top legislator pays Tet visit to Vietnam’s officers, soldiers working at Laos’ NA House

Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Pany Yathotou paid a visit on February 11 to officers and soldiers of Army Corps 11 of the Vietnam People’s Army who are working on the construction of the Lao NA House, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

On behalf of the Lao NA Standing Committee and the Steering Committee for the new NA House project, Lao NA Vice Chairman Somphanh Phengkhammy extended New Year wishes to all officers, soldiers and staff of Army Corps 11 involving in the building of the NA House.

He appreciated their efforts to overcome difficulties, particularly impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to fulfill the political task assigned by the two Parties, States and peoples, thus contributing to consolidating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

He also congratulated the success of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which, he said, set out new guidelines and plans for Vietnam to continue implementing its goal of becoming an industrialised and modernized country.

Pany Yathotou presented a basket of flowers to Deputy Commander of Army Corps Col. Nguyen Chien to welcome the Year of the Buffalo.

On behalf of officers and soldiers of Army Corps 11, from Hanoi, Commander Maj. Gen. Nguyen Quoc Dung expressed his thanks for the consideration of leaders of the Lao NA.

He affirmed that the army corps will ensure the quality of the Lao NA House to make it deserve to be a symbol of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos./.

Standing member of Party Central Committee‘s Secretariat pays Tet visit to soldiers

Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee‘s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong made a visit to Division 9 of IV Corps on February 11, just one day before the Lunar New Year (Tet), to extend Tet wishes to the officers and soldiers.

The Party official commended Division 9 for completing well not only their regular tasks but also extra missions in the past year, including organizing Party congresses at its units thus contributing to the success of the military’s Party Congress and the 13th National Congress.

He especially noted that the division has effectively kept the COVID-19 pandemic at bay despite its complicated developments in the country.

Thuong stressed the important role of the military when the country enters the year 2021 which is full of opportunities as well as difficulties and challenges. He required the military to uphold combat readiness and build a strong and pure army, ready to stamp out any schemes of enemies and hostile forces.

He asked Division 9 to pay special attention to Party building work, adding that all officers and commanders must be exemplary models for their soldiers. The division should also coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Political Commissar of the division Colonel Vo Phuoc Vy pledged that officers and soldiers of the division will uphold the glorious tradition of the division, which has twice been conferred with the title of Hero of the Armed Forces./.

Deputy Health Minister inspects COVID-19 treatment in HCM City

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son led a special task force for COVID-19 prevention and control to inspect the treatment of COVID-19 patients at the Cu Chi hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on February 11.

The hospital is treating 43 COVID-19 patients, including 32 cases related to the cluster at the luggage handling company in Tan Son Nhat airport.

Director of the hospital Nguyen Thanh Dung reported that since the pandemic first broke out in Vietnam one year ago, the hospital has treated 177 COVID-19 patients and quarantined more than 800 F1 cases. Staff members are mobilized from other hospitals in HCM City, and work in shifts, with 40 people for each shift lasting five weeks.

Deputy Director of the municipal Health Department Tang Chi Thuong praised the hospital for excellently fulfilling its tasks, helping reduce the workload for other hospitals in coping with COVID-19.

Deputy Minister Son hailed the great contribution of medical workers of the hospital, who are working hard to care for patients during the Lunar New Year festival. He wished them a happy new year, and asked them to stay prepared for any circumstances even though the number of new COVID-19 cases in the city has begun to drop recently.

Vietnamese Ambassador delivers online Tet greetings to detained fishermen in Indonesia

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang on February 10 held a consular visit in the form of teleconference and delivered Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to Vietnamese fishermen who are being kept in a detention centre in Tanjungpinang.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Embassy also made virtual pre-Tet meetings to Vietnamese fishermen detained in Ranai and Pontianak centres.

Ambassador Quang informed the fishermen that he had worked with Indonesian authorities and asked the detention centres to allow them to buy necessary things and celebrate the Vietnamese traditional festival ensuring pandemic prevention regulations.

The fishermen thanked the Vietnamese Embassy and wished that the Government will coordinate with the Indonesian authorities to organise repatriation flights for them to return to the home country.

Last December, Quang had a virtual working session with leaders of Tanjung Pinang detention centre on December 16 to discuss the situation of Vietnamese fishermen detained there.

Quang thanked officers at the detention centre for their cooperation with the Embassy of Vietnam in Indonesia in recent years and asked them to help improve living conditions for the fishermen.

He proposed the centre to provide the fishermen with more healthy and hygienic meals and space for exercising activities along with timely health care and face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19./.

COVID-19 remains biggest challenge for Southeast Asia in 2021: survey

The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts remain the largest challenges for the Southeast Asian region in 2021, according to the State of Southeast Asia 2021 survey report announced by the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute on February 10.

A total 1,032 respondents from ten ASEAN member states participated in the online survey which drew from five categories of affiliation: academia/research, business/finance, government, civil-society/non-governmental/media and regional/international organisations.

In terms of COVID-19 fight leadership, respondents vote almost equally for Singapore (32.7 percent) and Vietnam (31.1 percent) for providing best leadership to ASEAN.

ASEAN continues to express concerns over the East Sea issue, and regional people said the issue should be settle based on respect of international law.

Vietnamese expats in Laos preserve traditional Lunar New Year

Vietnamese expatriates in Laos have rushed off their feet those days to prepare for the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday since they could not return to their homeland due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They gathered to make chung (square glutinous rice) cake – the soul of Tet that reflects the quintessence of heaven and earth through the skilled hands of humans.

Busy with washing ‘dong’ leaves, marinating the meat, wrapping and boiling the cakes, the Vietnamese expats recalled the old memories in the homeland, and felt the warm Tet atmosphere is around the corner.

Do Van Nam and Vu Thi Tam, who have lived in Laos for more than ten years, said they always come back home to enjoy Tet holiday with their families, and although they have to stay here due to COVID-19, they enjoyed a truly traditional Tet with the chung cake making activity.

The expats hoped that the pandemic is put under control soon so that they can return to their homeland, meet their relatives and friends, and visit famous tourist destinations in the country./.

Hà Nội boosts ‘One Commune, One Product’ programme

Hà Nội authorities plan to accelerate trade promotion to drive ‘One Commune, One Product’ (OCOP) product consumption domestically and for export, said Chu Phú Mỹ, Director of Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

He said doing so would be vital to improving the lives of rural people.

Đỗ Thị Kinh Thông, director of Kim Thông Trade, service, tourism, import and export Cooperative, said in the past, few people knew about the co-operative’s products.

However, after being certified for OCOP and supported by authorities in terms of communication work, they have won the trust of many consumers who are willing to use the products.

“When our new products are brought to the market, authorities support the co-operative to introduce them at conferences and fairs. Thereby, many retail stores and those selling safe food as well as supermarkets want to sign contracts on product consumption.”

“We expect to soon approach and bring products into major supermarket channels in Việt Nam,” Thông said.

The co-operative is aiming to have their peanuts labelled with five stars – the highest quality certification of the OCOP programme – and export them.

To achieve this, along with the preparation of high-quality raw material areas, the co-operative is aiming to satisfy the standards of import markets, especially choosy ones.

“Currently, the material area of ​​the co-operative is planted in Chanh Thôn Village, Phú Xuyên District’s Nam Tiến Commune. We plan to set up a material area spanning ​​several hundred hectares to build safe peanut growing areas in Việt Nam, especially in Phú Xuyên District, where our workshop is located,” Thông said.

Nguyễn Văn Thiêng, head of Đông Anh District’s Economic Office, said in 2019-2020, the district certified more than 100 products as OCOP and elevated the rank for another six.

The OCOP programme is effective, he said.

The programme has helped motivate OCOP participants to focus on building high-quality products, ensuring safety, and continuing to affirm the brand of OCOP products.

With nearly 1,000 products certified as meeting OCOP standards, equivalent to 35.52 per cent of total OCOP products in the country, Hà Nội is one of the leading localities in implementing the programme.

To bring OCOP products to consumers, it is necessary to hold small-scale trade promotion fairs specialised in the OCOP products of a district or locality, according to Thông.

“The smaller the trade fair is, the faster products will reach the market,” she said.

To enhance the effectiveness of OCOP products after receiving certification, Thiêng said it was a must to enhance the quality of the products.

More favourable policies should be issued to support participants in building brands and to meet the standards of not only Việt Nam but also the region and world.

Nguyễn Văn Chí, Deputy Chief of the Hà Nội Office of New Rural Development Programme Coordination, said the development of OCOP products still faced many difficulties.

Products tend to be made on a small scale and most of the labourers have not been professionally trained, he said.

Chí also said the market for many of the products is not stable while many products are mainly in a rudimentary form.

To remove obstacles for OCOP products, the department wants municipal authorities to create favourable conditions for producers who participate in the programme, particularly on branding and certification, according to Mỹ.

Over the next five years, Hà Nội hopes to have at least 400 products certified as meeting the OCOP standards each year.

Heading to COVID-19 hot spots, doctors welcome new year far from home

When the new community cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai last month, Võ Ngọc Anh Thơ, a doctor of HCM City’s Chợ Rẫy Hospital, dropped everything and headed to the area on a mission.

With Tết (Lunar New Year) just a few weeks away, Thơ didn’t know when she would return to welcome the new year with her family.

This year might be the second Tết she would welcome the new year far from home.

Last year she stayed at the hospital throughout the holiday to treat a Chinese father and his son, the first two COVID-19 patients in Việt Nam.

This year Thơ is a member of the medical quick-response team of Chợ Rẫy Hospital which is responsible for assisting other localities.

The team was mobilised to support Gia Lai after the province saw a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases linked to the cluster in northern Hải Dương Province.

Lacking experienced healthcare experts and medical equipment with poor treatment capacity, the Central Highlands province was in urgent need of assistance from national hospitals.

The medical quick-response team of Chợ Rẫy Hospital has three doctors – Dr Phùng Mạnh Thắng, head of Infection Control Unit; Dr Nguyễn Lý Minh Duy from the Intensive Care Unit and Dr Thơ, deputy head of the Tropical Disease Unit, the only woman in the team.

Before boarding a flight to Gia Lai, Dr Thơ said two hours after receiving the mobilisation call, doctors in the team prepared for their mission.

“I am expecting to welcome the new year far from home one more time,” she told plo.vn.

Dr Thơ’s duty in Gia Lai is to follow up patients’ disease development.

“The new coronavirus variant is strong and has a high speed of infection,” she said.

With one-year experience fighting against the virus, Thơ felt calm this time but not negligent.

Dr Phùng Mạnh Thắng, who is in charge of infection control, said the team didn’t know when they would be able to return.

“The team will support quarantine work at the Gia Lai General Hospital. Depending on the outbreak development, we might support doctors there to treat COVID-19 patients,” he said.

30,000 rapid diagnostic tests to quickly identify sources of COVID-19 transmission in HCM City

The Ministry of Health will provide HCM City with 30,000 rapid diagnostic tests to help the city quickly trace contacts and identify transmission sources of COVID-19.

The ministry agreed to provide the tests following a request by the head of the HCM City Department of Health at a meeting on Wednesday between Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam and the HCM City People’s Committee.

Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn said the ministry would provide additional assistance to the city in the upcoming time.

The standing team for COVID-19 prevention and control in HCM City is headed by Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn.

Nguyễn Tấn Bỉnh, head of the city’s Department of Health, said the health sector is giving rapid diagnostic tests to more than 1,600 staff of VIAGS Company which provides cargo service at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, where an outbreak has occurred.

Eight employees of the company tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Because some people, designated F2, who had contact with COVID-19 patients, designated F1, tested positive, all of VIAG (Vietnam Airport Ground Services) company staff and others working at Tân Sơn Nhất airport were being tested, he added.

Nguyễn Trí Dũng, head of the city Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, said the rapid tests will be used to supplement PCR tests, which are considered the most accurate tests and give results only six hours later.

Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said that HCM City should also screen and take testing samples from people at bus stations and coffee stores in areas near factories and near the city gateways.

Đam said that the city should not miss any transmission source and should monitor and provide tests at bus and train stations. The city should also try to identify all locations of outbreaks in the community, he added.

He noted that sources of transmission could also come from people illegally entering the country.

HCM City is the first in the country to set up criteria on “giving scores” for COVID-19 prevention and control activities at health facilities, schools, factories and bus stations, he said.

The city and other provinces have given instructions to these public places about preventive measures and have also provided updates to the “Map of Safely Living with COVID-19” which can be found on the website www.antoancovid.vn.

The city has quickly traced F1 and F2 contacts, and has zoned and locked down 33 sites that contain locally transmitted cases.

On February 10, the standing team for COVID-19 prevention and control in the city checked the lockdown area in Gò Vấp District and Military Hospital 175.

The team also checked the field hospital and quarantine area at Military Hospital 175.

Nguyễn Hồng Sơn, director of the Military Hospital 175, said that after the new COVID-19 patients came to the hospital, all of the hospital staff were tested.

The quarantine area at the field hospital was set up to admit medical officials who have had close contact with COVID-19 patients.

Deputy Minister of Health Sơn instructed the Military Hospital 175 to prepare to admit COVID-19 patients if other designated hospitals become overloaded.

Elsewhere, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on February 10 recorded four more people testing positive for COVID-19, increasing the total number of COVID-19 patients in the locality to 26.

The four new patients, who were F1 contacts, have been isolated in quarantine areas.

Cao Bang people engaged more in forestation

Forestation has been seen as an effective way for people in the northern province of Cao Bằng to increase income as well as helping to protect local forests.

Hoàng Thị Nga, a grower in Bản Mới Hamlet, Khâm Thanh Commune in the province’s Trùng Khánh District said that her family grew pine trees on an area of nearly 3ha.

“I have just sold pine timber grown on about 2 hectares for more than VNĐ 80million” Nga said, adding that forestation now helps her generate quite stable income.

She said that her family started planting trees in 1998 when the Government allocated nearly 2ha of forest land for them to take care of.

Nông Văn Quỳnh, another farmer in a border commune of Ngọc Khê said 20 years ago, his family started growing more than 5,000sq.m of pine trees. His family has also harvested pine timber.

Quỳnh said he planned to grow about one hectare of acacia as the tree’s growth time was shorter and would generate wood quicker.

Hoàng Thị Hằng, vice chairwoman of Ngọc Khê Commune People’s Committee said the commune had about 1,000ha of forest land including nearly 700ha of natural forest.

For the last few years, local authorities called on households to take part in forestation projects.

“When the forest is grown along border area under the care of the local households, the forest is better cared for and border security is better ensured,” she said.

About 400ha of forest were grown during the years, notably in hamlets of Ta Nay, Pác Peo, Pác Thay, Đoỏng Dọa and An Hỷ, Hằng said.

There are more than 35,000ha of forest land in Trùng Khánh District, of which, natural forest areas cover over 33,000ha, accounting for 50.9 per cent of total the district’s area.

According to the district’s Forest Protection Division, sloped mountains and a dense network of creeks make it difficult to plant, take care of and protect the forests.

Authorities and forest rangers found that the participation of local people in forestation would help expand forest areas and improve forest protection in the district, particularly in areas which border China.

Since 2016, 230ha of production forest, 115ha of protected forest and 60ha of replacement forest were grown. Around 550ha of protection forest was allocated to local households who are responsible for maintaining.

Until now, local people exploited nearly 5,600cu.m of timber in the production forest, which helped increase the forest value and income for residents.

La Đức Toàn, head of Quây Sơn River Protection Forest Management Board said when local households received forest to take care of, they would be instructed in forest fire prevention and control and forestry technique.

Forest carers also signed commitments not to violate Forestry Law, particularly those related to timber exploitation, Toàn said.

Kiên Giang aims for 24% growth in marine aquaculture

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang targets an average annual growth rate of 24 per cent for marine aquaculture from now to 2030.

With a coastline of more than 200km and many large and small islands, Kiên Giang has the largest number of floating cages for breeding marine aquatic species in the delta.

It aims for an annual output of 113,530 tonnes for marine fish and other aquatic species by 2025 and 207,190 tonnes by 2030.

The province targets having 7,500 floating aquaculture cages on a total of 7,000ha by 2025 and 14,000 floating cages on a total of 16,000ha of sea surface by 2030.

Both traditional and high-tech breeding methods will be used.

The province also plans to breed pearl oysters on 200ha and bivalve mollusks on a total area of 25,000ha by 2030.

To meet the targets, the province needs VNĐ12.7 trillion (US$550 million) for marine aquaculture in the 2021- 30 period. The investment money will be come from central and local budgets and marine aquaculture breeders.

The province will also provide farmers breeding techniques and help near-shore fishermen switch to breeding marine fish to reduce overfishing in the area.

Marine fish like groupers, cobia, sea bass, lobsters, mantis shrimp, blue swimmer crabs and pearl oysters will be bred on islands in Phú Quốc City, Kiên Hải District, Hà Tiên City’s Tiên Hải Commune and Kiên Lương District’s Sơn Hải and Hòn Nghệ communes.

Coastal areas in Hà Tiên City and the districts of Kiên Lương, Hòn Đất, An Minh and An Biên will breed bivalve mollusks like blood cockles, green mussels and ark clams.

The province plans to develop its marine aquaculture sustainably on an industrial scale to serve domestic consumption and exports, and create linkages among stakeholders to improve production value.

The Trấn Phú Trading and Import- Export Co., Ltd, for example, is breeding marine fish in floating cages with Norwegian techniques in Phú Quốc City. And the Mavin Group is investing in breeding marine fish in 2,000ha of water off the coast of Kiên Hải District for export.

High profits

Kiên Giang has about 4,500 floating cages on the sea for marine aquatic species breeding, mostly near islands, according to the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Breeding marine fish in floating cages offers high profits for households living in coastal areas and islands.

In Kiên Hải Island District, farmers who breed grouper, cobia and other marine fish species in floating cages in An Sơn, Nam Du and Lại Sơn communes earn a profit of hundreds of millions of đồng a year.

Marine fish are bred in floating rafts that often have 4 – 6 fish cages each.

Nguyễn Văn Năm, who has eight floating fish cages in Kiên Hải’s Lại Sơn Commune, said farmers can earn a profit of VNĐ50 million ($2,160) for an 18-month fish crop in a floating fish cage.

“If using proper breeding techniques and having quality fish-fry, farmers can earn a profit margin of 100 per cent,” he said.

In Lại Sơn, more than 100 households breed marine fish in about 700 floating cages, with an annual output of more than 1,000 tonnes.

Lại Sơn commune has the highest density of floating cages in Kiên Giang.

Lại Sơn, An Sơn and Nam Du communes have offered breeding training for farmers and regularly provide them with information about weather and diseases.

The commune has encouraged farmers to set up co-operatives to improve production value and income. The Tiến Đạt Co-operative in Lại Sơn, for instance, has 10 members who breed marine fish in floating cages and offer tourism services on their floating cages.

Local authorities and farmer associations have supported farmers with soft loans and breeding techniques.

The Hòn Nghệ Commune Farmers Association in Kiên Lương District, for example, has encouraged households that have financial capacity to invest in breeding marine fish and join with other less financially capable households and share the profits.

The model, begun in 2016, has worked effectively, according to the association. Less financially capable households have earned a profit of VNĐ250-300 million ($10,800 – 13,000) a year.

The association has worked with the province’s Fund for Support Farmers to provide soft loans worth a total of VNĐ1.3 billion ($56,300) to 46 marine-fish breeding households in Hòn Nghệ since 2016.

HCM City to switch from pork production to pig breeding

HCM City plans to move its pig farming industry away from breeding for pork and increase the number of pigs raised for breeding purposes in the next five years.

It will develop nuclear farms for producing high-quality piglets for supply to farmers in the city and elsewhere.

It will seek to expand household pig farms into large–scale farms that breed operate on an industrial scale, use high–tech breeding techniques to ensure safety and achieve Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards.

It has 2,280 pig farming establishments with more than 200,000 head.

It plans to sustain this size until 2025.

Most of the farms are in the five outlying districts of Củ Chi, Hóc Môn, Bình Chánh, Cần Giờ, and Nhà Bè.

The number of farms that do not comply with safety standards, especially those that feed their animals food residues, will be reduced this year.

The city targets 60 – 70 per cent of households farming pigs to VietGAP standards this year and 90 – 95 per cent by 2025 and 90 – 100 per cent of them meeting environmental protection regulations this year and 100 per cent by 2025.

A digital map for managing pigs and pig diseases will be ready by this year.

The city wants more than 10 per cent of farming households to be members of co-operative groups or co-operatives this year and 20 per cent in 2025.

To meet the five-year targets it will encourage farming households to invest in farms with closed processes, adopt advanced breeding techniques and raise pigs either for meat or producing piglets and not both.

It will implement bio-safety measures for disease prevention to develop farms that are safe from outbreaks and ensure the use of pig feed with clear origins.

The pig farming districts in co-operation with relevant departments and agencies will support the development of pig co-operative groups and co-operatives and linkages among stakeholders to increase the incomes of farming households.

The Department of Industry and Trade will establish a pork trading floor.

An average of 10,000 pigs are traded daily in the city.

There are 24 pig slaughterhouses.

Nguyễn Ngọc Hòa, chairman of the HCM City Finance and Investment State Owned Company and a member of the steering committee for setting up the trading floor, said it would help pig farmers directly access consumers and provide clear information to all stakeholders.

The floor would also meet the demand for modernising pig farming and hygienic and safe meat, stabilise pork prices and develop exports via official channels, he added.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR

Start-up contests has been a draw to Vietnamese youngsters (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Some 72 percent of 1,200 Vietnamese youngsters and adolescents said they believe that in the next 15 years things will get better than they were before 2019, while 37 percent said they plan to run their own business, according to a report released recently by the British Council.

According to the Next Generation Vietnam report, the majority of youngsters are confident that Vietnam is working hard to improve the living conditions of all its citizens.

They expressed optimism about education and employment opportunities in the future, while hoping for more practical training programmes, Hoang Van Anh, Director for Education and Society at the British Council Vietnam told a dialogue on the enhancement of the role and engagement of youngsters regarding development issues recently held in Hanoi.

37 percent of young Vietnamese want to run their own business

Anh said the project is the first comprehensive survey by the British Council on the attitudes of youngsters towards matters directly relating to them. The report aims to help youngsters in countries that are experiencing important socio-economic changes to raise their voice.

The report showed that an entrepreneurial spirit thrives in Vietnam. Nearly four in ten (37 percent) respondents to the survey behind the report plan to eventually start their own business, regardless of their socio-economic background. During interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), respondents lauded entrepreneurship as offering an authority and freedom unmatched by working for others.

At the same time, Vietnam opening up to the world has led to dramatic societal changes felt by the new generation. Their lives are intensely digitised, interwoven with internet access and social media, the latter of which plays a crucial role in defining identity for around one-third of respondents. With more information and global exchange, social values are shifting. Evidence from discussion groups showed that young Vietnamese take great pride in improved gender equality in the country and feel excited that society is becoming increasingly modernised and open-minded. Four in ten (39 percent) respondents rank gender equality among their top five priority issues.

He cited the experience of other countries in underlining the need for Vietnam to enhance the role and involvement of youngsters in developing issues and equipping them with modern skills such as self-study, English, computer skills, and group working.

It is necessary to encourage and create favourable conditions for young people to make more contributions to the building of e-government, such as supervising activities relating to youth and providing regular feedback, he added.

Limited connections

Nguyen Thien Tu, Director of the Centre for Vietnam Youth Talent, Science and Technology (CYTAST) under the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee, said that in order to promote the role of youth, the committee has organised movements to create the environment for them to show their talent, including IT contests, startup competitions, and awards.

According to Tu, CYTAST is keeping data on 5,000 young Vietnamese talent. Connection activities, however, remain a weakness of the centre due to a number of issues, including the poor engagement of enterprises and organisations.

Measures to discover, support, promote, and use talent have shown modest efficiency and stability, he said.

Topics discussed at the dialogue were practical, he said, and included suggestions on assisting and optimising young Vietnamese talent as well as policies to encourage their involvement in social issues .

Activities within the framework of the dialogue on the Next Generation Vietnam report from the British Council and the Science-Technology Development Programme of the Global Vietnamese Young Scholars Association will take place in the two first months of 2021, with the engagement of prestigious speakers, representatives from universities and schools in Hanoi, and a large number of youngsters./.