House without electricity or running water

Electricians renovate a low-voltage power grid in Nguyễn Du Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Hà Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Last month, while Kiều Văn Mạnh was delivering timber in the capital city’s Thạch Thất District, the planks of wood he was carrying came into contact with the overhead power lines and caused a 23-minute power outage for the two districts of Thạch Thất and Ba Vì. An unofficial survey in Hà Nội revealed several instances in which high-voltage power lines had violated safety corridors, threatening the electrical supply for the city. In January, an unidentified unit was caught moving trees in front of the Phạm Văn Đồng gate of the Ministry of Public Security, which is within the ‘safety corridor’ of an underground power cable that runs from Chèm Village in Từ Liêm District, through Nghĩa Đô Ward in Cầu Giấy District to Mỹ Đình Commune in Từ Liêm District. A similar case was reported on the same day in Hà Đông District. It was … [Read more...] about Power safety violations endanger capital city

The Bắc Qua street market. Many people still prefer buying food at these street markets rather than modern markets in the capital. - VNS Đoàn TÙng Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Modern markets were built in Hà Nội to make shopping more hygenic, pleasurable and convenient, putting many traders and merchants in a large, well-lit, air-conditioned space under one roof. Paradoxically, modern markets are often deserted, while street markets ( chợ cóc ) are always full of buyers and sellers. A report by the Lao động (Labour) newspaper describes the scene on a typical morning in the mordern market within the Hàng Da Trade Centre in the capital’s central Hoàn Kiếm District, with only a few kiosks open although it was 11 am. A trader there told the reporter that other traders had moved elsewhere to do business, and she only stayed because she provides food for several local restaurants. The same situation was recorded in Chợ Mơ Trade Centre in Trương Định Ward of Hai Bà Trưng District. … [Read more...] about Hà Nội’s flourishing street market economy

A serious fire that occurred on Lê Văn Sỹ Street in HCM City’s District 3 killed six people and injured five last December. — VNA/VNS Photo Mạnh Linh Viet Nam News HCM CITY - HCM City People’s Committee and local agencies are making efforts to protect local households and home-run businesses from fire. Lê Tấn Bửu, director of the city’s Fire Fighting Department, said at a meeting this week that nearly 2 million households, including more than 300,000 home-run businesses, faced high risk of fire. Most houses in the city were built before 1975, while many households do not comply with fire safety regulations. The firefighting department said that promoting fire prevention in household businesses was difficult. Electricity problems cause 70 per cent of fires in the city, the department said. Trần Thanh Châu, deputy director of the department, said that residents’ lack of awareness of fire prevention and the risks they face contributed to the problem. … [Read more...] about City strengthens fire prevention efforts

The Carina Plaza apartment complex in District 8 after a fire on March 23 which killed 13 and injured 47. -- VNS. Photo Gia Lộc Viet Nam News Gia Lộc HCM CITY – “When will we be able to return to our apartment?” That’s the question many of the residents of Carina Plaza apartment complex in HCM City’s District 8 are asking again and again, following the devastating fire on March 23 that killed 13 people and injured 47. A resident of the complex’s block C, Hưng (family name withheld) and his family are temporarily living with his parents at their house in District 5 while waiting for the damage to be repaired.. “I have three young children. I want my family to be safe,” Hưng said. After the fire, the district People’s Committee set up a team which, in concert with the complex’s investor, is in charge of helping affected residents. A hotline was also established for local residents. All 736 households (and 2,944 people) at the complex, for instance, were … [Read more...] about After deadly fire, Carina Plaza residents await day they can return to their homes

Even on the hot days industrial zone workers staying at Hậu Dưỡng Commune, Đông Anh District only use fans to save on their electric bills. — Photo laodong.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Overwhelming heat since early May seemed to signal a harsh and long summer this year. While many seek to hide from the heat in comfortable rooms cooled with fans or air conditioners, many workers dare not use too much electricity for the privilege. They are poor, and paying more for power than they should. Đỗ Thị Linh left her mountainous hometown of Tuyên Quang for Hà Nội to work in the Bắc Thăng Long industrial zone. She rented a room adjacent to her company, and was irritated by the electricity price quoted by her landlord. “I have to pay VNĐ3,500 (20 US cent) for a unit. Summer has come which means I will have to use more electricity, and that means more money will be spent for it while I still have so many other things to cover,” Linh said. It was quite expensive compared to the highest … [Read more...] about Poor workers burdened with expensive power rates

Migrants build temporary houses on the isolated land. — Photo danviet.vn Viet Nam News ĐẮK LẮK  — Half a year ago, the couple Lý Seo Xì and Tráng Thị Tòng moved to a temporarily iron-sheet house on barren land in which there remain tree roots. Their 18-month-old baby, Lý Thị Hoa, who had her hand burned by boiled water four days ago, is playing on the ground, and occasionally crying out in pain. Xì said that he bought medicine for his young daughter. “The pain will wear off after a few days. My house is too far from the hospital so I cannot take my daughter there,” he told Nông Thôn Ngày Nay (Countryside Today) newspaper. His house is one of thoses located in an isolated area in t he middle of a forest in Ea Súp District in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk, where there is an without electricity, clean water, schools or clinics. The area is called Zone 286 of Cư M’Lan Commune, and is some 15km from Yok Đôn National Park. The commune … [Read more...] about Migrants dream of establishing village

Ha Noi — Many National Assembly deputies argued yesterday that a draft amended Securities Law should lessen the State Securities Commission's affiliation with the Finance Ministry. The deputies, who met in groups to discuss the proposed changes to the more-than-three-year-old law, complained that the ministry clouded the commission's jurisdiction so that it could not quickly respond to changes in the market. Deputy Nguyen Minh Thuyet, northern Lang Son Province, said the SSC should become an autonomous agency that was independent of the ministry. Deputy Cao Sy Kiem, northern Thai Binh Province, said securities required direct and focused management. "The SSC was affiliated and subject to Government management in the past," he said. "The many weaknesses exposed since it was transferred to the Finance Ministry showed that an overhaul was required to make the market perform better." The deputy suggested the SSC should be returned to the Government. Deputy … [Read more...] about Finance Ministry should ‘back off on securities’

Huu Thanh Industrial Park in Long An gets off the ground By Minh Tam Excavators at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Huu Thanh Industrial Park - PHOTO: MINH TAM HCMC - On June 6, the Vietnam Urban and Industrial Development Investment Corporation (IDICO) broke ground for the Huu Thanh Industrial Park project in Duc Hoa District in the Mekong Delta province of Long An, welcoming a new wave of investment and manufacturing in Vietnam post-Covid-19. Nguyen Van Dat, chief executive officer of IDICO, told the Saigon Times that the establishment of the park is aimed at seizing the opportunities, including the investments from Europe and the United States to Vietnam, brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Dat said that investors from Europe and the United States impose strict requirements in terms of infrastructure quality and relevant services. As such, to attract foreign investors, firms must meet their requirements with regard to infrastructure, sewage … [Read more...] about Huu Thanh Industrial Park in Long An gets off the ground

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng (right) and his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith review a guard of honour during an official welcoming ceremony in Vientiane on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng Viet Nam News VIENTIANE — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng held talks with his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachith in Vientiane on Sunday following an official welcoming ceremony. General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President Bounnhang Vorachith said the first overseas trip by Nguyễn Phú Trọng in his new position as the top leader of both the Party and State of Việt Nam reflected the great friendship, special solidarity, close relations, mutual trust and comprehensive co-operation between the two Parties, States and peoples of Laos and Việt Nam. The visit was also a great source of encouragement for the Lao … [Read more...] about Top leaders of Việt Nam and Laos hold talks

Firefighters extinguish a fire at an industrial park HCM City. — VNS File Photo Viet Nam News HCM CITY — The HCM City fire brigade has called on people running shops at home to take proper preventive measures against fire. The warning came after a fire broke out in the kitchen of a fast-food restaurant on Bùi Viện Street in District 1, frightening not only staff but also guests. Earlier, authorities had reported loss of life in fires at a house selling coffins in Bình Tân District (four deaths), one selling wedding dresses in District 12 (three deaths) and another selling household items in Bình Tân District (four deaths). According to statistics released by the HCM City F ire Fighting Police , there have been nearly 1,180 fires, including 595 at shophouses, in the past three years . The city has around 294,000 shophouses, nearly a third of which are unlicensed. Among the unlicensed ones, nearly 39,900 face fire hazards due to inflammable materials … [Read more...] about HCM City shophouses warned on fire threat