Freshwater is sold in certain areas for VND200,000 ($8.6) per cubic metre, and local authorities use tanker trucks to deliver water to households. For more than a month Tran Minh Chinh of Can Giuoc district in Long An Province has had to buy from trucks for his family of five. He says the annual rainfall is a month late, causing all freshwater reservoirs in the area to dry up. "The price of water is now VND60,000-200,000 ($2.6-8.6) for one cubic metre. A family of 4 to 5 members has to pay about VND1 million ($43) for water monthly." People have to conserve water by every means possible. Water used for rice rinsing is saved for plants and livestock, bathing is done using salt water followed by a quick rinse with freshwater. Nguyen Van Minh, a farmer, said: "Some areas are far away from provincial centres and inaccessible by trucks, so people there may not have water to use despite having money." Due to the long drought, seawater has intruded 80km inland from the Vam … [Read more...] about Drought, saltwater intrusion double whammy for Mekong delta farmers
Vietnam Book Day held in Hanoi
Following the successes of the previous editions, the sixth Vietnam Book Day in 2019 and the book festival have drawn the participation of more than 90 publishers, which showcase various kinds of books, particularly new pieces by new authors, in 100 stalls. During the event, there will be other activities such as exchanges between authors and readers. A large number of books showcased Old books also capture much attention of book-lovers. The event also serves as a great occasion for publishers to introduce their newly-released books, promote love for books among people and seek cooperation and partnership in publishing books and holding book-related events. Translated by Trong Dat - Duc Phan … [Read more...] about Vietnam Book Day held in Hanoi
Former prosecutor faces prosecution for child molestation
On April 21, HCMC’s District 4 police ratified child molestation charges against 61-year-old Nguyen Huu Linh, a retired deputy chief prosecutor in the central city of Da Nang. Pham Xuan Thao, deputy police chief of District 4 said that after 18 days of investigation, they have gathered enough evidence to press charges against Linh. Linh, who lives in Da Nang, was visited his son in an apartment building in District 4. On the evening of April 1, a girl of around five walked into the elevator followed by Linh, who was focused on his phone. A security guard helped the girl select her floor before exiting. As soon as the elevator door closed, Linh wrapped his arms around the girl’s neck and kissed her. When the girl moved away from him, Linh grabbed her again and only let her go when the door opened. She ran away in panic. After seeing the girl in an unusual state, her family requested to review the elevator camera and the footage showed that … [Read more...] about Former prosecutor faces prosecution for child molestation
Exhibition on Soviet Union’s support for Vietnam held in St. Petersburg
Some of the items displayed at the exhibition in Saint Petersburg (Photo: VNA) Moscow (VNA) – An exhibition is being held at the Russian Museum of Military Medicine in Saint Petersburg to give visitors an insight into the assistance of the former Soviet Union’s army for Vietnam. The exhibition is organised with the support of Saint Petersburg’s authorities, the museum’s leaders, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and businesses. It showcases photos and objects reflecting the wars’ destructive consequences in Vietnam and the Soviet Union-Vietnam cooperation in post-war reconstruction. The event displays proofs of least-known inhumane treatment against Vietnamese people, violations of international human rights law, and the use of chemical toxics against civilians in the war. It also features medical tools the Soviet Union provided for Vietnam and personal belongings of Vietnamese soldiers. Additionally, rare videos and photos also give visitors a … [Read more...] about Exhibition on Soviet Union’s support for Vietnam held in St. Petersburg
Drug cartels don garb of normal business in HCMC
On April 19, police seized 500 kilograms of meth stashed in loudspeakers and arrested two Taiwanese men and a Vietnamese man in HCMC. They suspect that the seizure is connected to a previous case a month earlier, when 300 kilograms of meth headed for Taiwan were seized. Ten days later, 895 packs of heroin were found in a truck on the city's outskirts. In that instance, police arrested two Taiwanese men and a Vietnamese driver. The drugs seized in all the cases came from the infamous Golden Triangle (where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar intersect), one of the largest drug producing areas in Asia. They made their way into HCMC through Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. From HCMC, the drugs are transported to other countries by sea, police say. The drug gangs are led by foreigners from Taiwan, China and Malaysia, and they control the business in HCMC from overseas. Before setting up their operations, they send people to look around and rent warehouses for a short time (1-3 months). … [Read more...] about Drug cartels don garb of normal business in HCMC