US State Department – International Religious Freedom Report for 2016

This report is the opinion of the US State Department,
not of CVD or any of its authors, translators or admins.

 

Vietnam

 

Executive Summary

The constitution states that all people have the right to freedom of belief and religion. Current law, however, provides for significant government control over religious practices and includes vague provisions that permit restrictions on religious freedom in the stated interest of national security and social unity. In November the National Assembly passed a new Law on Belief and Religion, which is scheduled to come into effect in January 2018. The implementation decree for the new law remained pending release. Tiếp tục đọc “US State Department – International Religious Freedom Report for 2016”

Pristine and splendid beauty of Nam Du Archipelago

Last update 14:47 | 16/08/2017

Besides the famous Phu Quoc Island, Nam Du Archipelago, also in Kien Giang province, has been known as a summer paradise in Vietnam. Let’s contemplate the pristine and splendid scenery of Nam Du through the lens of photographers at Zing’s photo contest.

Pristine and splendid beauty of Nam Du Archipelago, travel news, Vietnam guide, Vietnam airlines, Vietnam tour, tour Vietnam, Hanoi, ho chi minh city, Saigon, travelling to Vietnam, Vietnam travelling, Vietnam travel, vn news
Nam Du Archipelago in Kien Hai District is around 80km from Rach Gia City. Tiếp tục đọc “Pristine and splendid beauty of Nam Du Archipelago”

Businesses have to contend with a “forest” of sublicenses

Last update 16:00 | 16/08/2017
VietNamnet Bridge – Despite reform, thousands of sub-licenses still exist, affecting businesses’ performance.

vietnam economy, business news, vn news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, vn news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, Vietnam breaking news, sublicenses, VCCI, administration reform

After July 2016, when the Investment and Enterprise Laws took effect, many unreasonable sublicenses were abolished, paving the way for 110,000 businesses to emerge.

However, at a recent government press conference, minister and chair of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said 5,700 procedures of different kinds still exist.

Cao Minh Truc, a member of the board of directors of Empire Group, the investor of the Cocobay Da Nang project, said there are too many vague regulations.

After July 2016, when the Investment and Enterprise Laws took effect, many unreasonable sublicenses were abolished, paving the way for 110,000 businesses to emerge.

“The current regulation stipulates that a hotel must have tennis court to be recognized as a 5-star hotel. Our hotel is next to a golf course and the guests mostly play golf. Do we still need a tennis court?” she said.

The regulation also says a 5-star hotel must have a spa. However, legally, there is no ‘spa’ industry in Vietnam, but there is only ‘massage’, she said. Tiếp tục đọc “Businesses have to contend with a “forest” of sublicenses”

Cosmetic surgery deaths highlight clinics’ violations

Last update 17:46 | 16/08/2017

VietNamNet Bridge – Bui Minh Trang, chief inspector of HCM City’s Health Department, said various violations had been detected at cosmetic surgery clinics, such as false advertising and employing surgeon not certified to perform plastic surgery, resulting in several fatalities in recent months.

Cosmetic surgery deaths, clinics’ violations, Viet Thanh Beauty Clinic, Vietnam economy, Vietnamnet bridge, English news about Vietnam, Vietnam news, news about Vietnam, English news, Vietnamnet news, latest news on Vietnam, Vietnam
The Viet Thanh Beauty Clinic. — Photo: VNN

In addition, many clinics hired non-professional staff, he said.

An American man died while having cosmetic surgery at a clinic on Su Van Hanh Street in District 10 on July. The man, identified as Edward Hartley, 53, went to the clinic for surgery to remove loose skin around his hip. He was given an anesthetic at 4pm, but started showing signs of circuit obstruction.

Doctors conducted emergency procedures but failed to revive Hartley. The municipal Health Department has concluded that he suffered anaphylactic shock. Tiếp tục đọc “Cosmetic surgery deaths highlight clinics’ violations”

Transport minister addresses over-charging BOT toll station

Last update 14:39 | 16/08/2017
Minister of Transport Truong Quang Nghia said the investor of Cai Lay BOT toll station in the southern province of Tien Giang had agreed to reduce the fees following opposition.

Transport minister addresses over-charging BOT toll station, social news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, vn news, Vietnam breaking news
Many drivers are putting small notes into bottles when they pay toll fees at Cai Lay BOT toll station to protest at excessive fees

According to drivers, the fees of VND35,000-180,000 (USD1.50-8.18) to travel on a 12-km road with just two lanes was too high. Meanwhile, the fees of for vehicles of from seven seats and lower is just VND40,000 (USD1.80) on Trung Luong-HCM City Highway which is up to 50km and has four lanes. Tiếp tục đọc “Transport minister addresses over-charging BOT toll station”

Student enrollment drops amid tuition increases

Last update 07:42 | 16/08/2017
VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 352,000 students passed exams to enter universities in the first enrollment period, but only 242,000 students have turned up to start school, while 110,000 students have rejected the opportunity. vietnam economy, business news, vn news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, vn news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, Vietnam breaking news, high school finals, MOET, Phung Xuan Nha
August 7 was the deadline for students to confirm their enrollment, but 30 percent of the students did not follow necessary procedures, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

Fifty-seven schools reported a high rate of students, 90 percent or more. At least 74 schools reported 70-90 percent, while 65 schools reported 50-70 percent. Tiếp tục đọc “Student enrollment drops amid tuition increases”

NA committee discusses BOT controversy

vietnamnews

Update: August, 16/2017 – 10:01

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee held a working session on supervising implementation of BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) traffic projects in the wake of heated protests over one of them in the southern province of Tiền Giang. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Trí

HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee held a working session on supervising implementation of BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) traffic projects in the wake of heated protests over one of them in the southern province of Tiền Giang.

The BOT model, which primarily cedes construction of public traffic infrastructure to the private sector, has been utilised by the Government to alleviate the burden on the State Budget, especially after official development assistance (ODA) began running thin. Tiếp tục đọc “NA committee discusses BOT controversy”

Khi “đùng một cái” thuế tăng 400% – Người dân sốc vì thuế đất tăng

LĐO | 13/08/2017 | 15:00

Ảnh minh họa. Nguồn: Chinhphu.vn
Ảnh minh họa. Nguồn: Chinhphu.vn

Thuế tăng gấp 3-4 lần sau chỉ một đêm không phải là sốc mà là rất sốc. Sốc không phải chỉ ở tỷ lệ % tăng thêm như một mũi tên thẳng đứng mà sốc còn ở cả cách chúng ta chưa lường được khả năng chịu đựng của dân.

Khuyến khích phát triển vật liệu xây không nung

SGGP Thứ Hai, 24/7/2017 08:07

Trong bối cảnh thích ứng với biến đổi khí hậu, việc tăng cường sử dụng vật liệu xây dựng không nung (VLXDKN) không những góp phần bảo vệ tài nguyên đất, mà còn có tầm quan trọng đặc biệt trong việc bảo vệ môi trường, giảm phát thải khí CO2.

Hạn chế sử dụng gạch đất sét nung truyền thống trong xây dựng nhằm giảm thải khí nhà kính, bảo vệ môi trường. Ảnh: Phương Hà

Hạn chế sử dụng gạch đất sét nung truyền thống trong xây dựng nhằm giảm thải khí nhà kính, bảo vệ môi trường. Ảnh: Phương Hà

Mặc dù vậy, từ năm 2010, Thủ tướng Chính phủ ban hành Quyết định 567/2010 phê duyệt Chương trình phát triển VLXD đến năm 2020 (gọi tắt Chương trình 567) về định hướng sản xuất và sử dụng VLXDKN thay thế gạch đất sét nung, nhưng đến nay việc thực hiện chương trình này vẫn còn rất nhiều mặt hạn chế. Tiếp tục đọc “Khuyến khích phát triển vật liệu xây không nung”

Racism ‘poisoning our societies’ says UN chief

RTE

People in Minnesota protest against racism and violence over the weekend in Charlottesville
People in Minnesota protest against racism and violence over the weekend in Charlottesville
The head of the United Nations has said that “racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia” are “poisoning our societies”, after a weekend of violence in the US state of Virginia.Writing on Twitter, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “We must stand up against them. Every time. Everywhere”.

Tiếp tục đọc “Racism ‘poisoning our societies’ says UN chief”

Giúp việc gia đình – một nghề như bao nghề khác

Ngày Quốc tế của người giúp việc gia đình

Tác giả Chang-Hee Lee, Giám đốc Tổ chức Lao động Quốc tế (ILO) tại Việt Nam

ILO – Ngày 16 tháng 6 năm 2017
Là người đứng đầu Tổ chức Lao động Quốc tế (ILO) tại Việt Nam, tôi thường xuyên nhận đăng ký xin nghỉ phép từ các đồng nghiệp với hàng chục lý do khác nhau. Vì người lao động có quyền được nghỉ phép hưởng nguyên lương, nên tôi chẳng bao giờ để ý tới những lý do mà họ nhắc đến, cho đến một ngày tôi nhận thấy một câu chuyện khá phổ biến: Họ phải ở nhà để trông con nhỏ vì người giúp việc nghỉ phép về thăm gia đình.

Photo contest captures romantic lakes across Vietnam

Last update 14:29 | 15/08/2017

Imposing mountains, beautiful beaches and romantic lakes are best retreats in Vietnam. Let’s contemplate the peaceful beauty of lakes across the country through the lens of photographers.

Photo contest captures romantic lakes across Vietnam, travel news, Vietnam guide, Vietnam airlines, Vietnam tour, tour Vietnam, Hanoi, ho chi minh city, Saigon, travelling to Vietnam, Vietnam travelling, Vietnam travel, vn news
Mac Lake in Cuc Phuong Forest in northern Ninh Binh Province Tiếp tục đọc “Photo contest captures romantic lakes across Vietnam”

Life in Hanoi decades ago

Last update 11:34 | 15/08/2017
An outdoor photo exhibition recently held on pedestrian streets near Hoan Kiem Lake features the life of the capital many years ago.

The exhibition was organised by the Vietnam News Agency’s Sports and Culture Newspaper, Asia Friendship Company and Vietnam Tourism-Hanoi JSC on the occasion of 10th anniversary of Bui Xuan Phai – For the Love of Hanoi Awards. Eight winners of the grand prize, more than 50 nominations and 30 inspiring high-quality works of art depicting Hanoi and a love for Hanoi have been honoured at the awards.50 photos are captured or collected by five photographers who have won Bui Xuan Phai Awards in the past decade including Le Vuong, Quang Phung, Nguyen Huu Bao, Dinh Trong Hieu and Dutch photographer Loes Herrink. Tiếp tục đọc “Life in Hanoi decades ago”

Vietnamese culture ministry to tighten management of festivals

Tuoi Tre

Some festivals in Vietnam have been infamous for chaotic stampedes and brutal rites

August 15,2017, 15:03 GMT+7

Vietnamese culture ministry to tighten management of festivals
A chaotic stampede is seen at a spring festival in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is looking to draft a decree on festival management and organization, in response to public complaints about the commercialization and brutality of some local festivities.The ministry has requested government directions on its initiative, and will unveil the first draft of the decree before 2018 should the plan be given the green light, said Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Elaborating on its decision, the ministry said some local festivals have recently been criticized for their violent and offensive content. Tiếp tục đọc “Vietnamese culture ministry to tighten management of festivals”

Three British men to be caned for sexual assault of woman in Singapore

TĐH: By their names, I think they are Viet Kieu in England

Men given five to eight strokes of rattan cane and up to six and a half years in prison for ‘reprehensible’ attack at stag party

Khong Tam Thanh, 22, was charged along with Michael Le and Vu Thai Son for sexually assaulting a woman during a stag party in Singapore.
Khong Tam Thanh, 22, was charged along with Michael Le and Vu Thai Son for sexually assaulting a woman during a stag party in Singapore. Photograph: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty

Three British men have been sentenced to jail and caning for sexually assaulting a Malaysian woman during a stag party in Singapore.

The defendants – Khong Tam Thanh, 22, Michael Le, 24, and Vu Thai Son, 24 – were originally accused of taking turns to rape the woman in a hotel room. The three pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated outrage of modesty. Tiếp tục đọc “Three British men to be caned for sexual assault of woman in Singapore”