Vietnam appoints Ambassador to ASEAN

VietNamNet Bridge – After Singapore, Vietnam is the second ASEAN member country that has its own Ambassador to ASEAN.

Ambassador Vu Dang Dung presented the credential to ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan in Jakarta, Indonesia.

On February 19, the Vietnamese Ambassador to ASEAN, Vu Dang Dung, presented the credential of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem to the ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan welcomed Vietnam as the second country to appoint its Ambassador to ASEAN.

He emphasized the important role of Vietnam in the association and praised Vietnam’s positive contribution to strengthen unity and cooperation inside ASEAN for common goals.

In the context of the global economic crisis, Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries’ establishment of its permanent representative delegation to ASEAN and putting the ASEAN Permanent Representative Committee into operation will help further unity and cooperation in ASEAN.

In 2010, Vietnam will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship. 2010 will mark the country’s 15^th ASEAN membership.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the 14^th ASEAN Summit in Huahin, Thailand form February 28 to March 1.

Xuan Linh

-->Read More ==>

When producers sell products themselves

VietNamNet Bridge – In the current difficult period, when consumers are trying to tighten their purse strings, companies are boosting sales by bringing products to families themselves instead of relying on distributors.

Companies are boosting sales by bringing products to families themselves

Luong Van Vinh, General Director of My Hao Cosmetics Company, said that companies can maintain sales only by retailing themselves; wholesale business now carries risks of losing sales agents to other companies and losing turnover as sales agents are also being affected by the economic downturn.

Selling products themselves

Therefore, Vinh has organised a team of 500 members in charge of selling products of the company in rural and remote localities.

The salesmen get minimum wage and the more lucrative income – commissions on sales, 1% of the turnover of dishwashing liquid, the best seller of the company, and 1.7% of the turnover of other products.

In the provinces in the west, salesmen carry products in ferry-boats on rivers or canals, while boats carry products further to more remote areas, where products are sold directly to buyers. In the north, big trucks bring commodities to localities, where smaller trucks and motorbikes carry the products further, to every street and corner of localities.

In new urban areas and residential quarters, the company supports distributors by giving them 4-6 salesmen, each in charge of 250 small shopping points. There are a lot of teams, and each team has a team leader, and every province or city a senior supervisor.

With such a ‘moving’ force of salesmen, after its turnover had dropped dramatically in September and October 2008 as consumers tightened their spending, the company’s turnover increased by 10% in the period between November 2008 and February 2009.

Going to alleys and side streets

In December 2008, Thuan Phat Foodstuff Joint Stock Company set up a sales team of 100 members to take the company’s products to every small shop in alleys and side streets. The decision has helped the company sell 200,000 more products a month.

Truong Lan Anh, General Director of the company, said that it was necessary to bring products to places where consumers go, groceries and markets. ”We have a distribution network with 1^st and 2^nd class agents. We provide trucks to support sales agents, and we also provide staffs to take care of customers,” Anh said.

Vissan, a processing foodstuff producer, now has 50 showrooms and 1,000 retail sales agents across the country, and has been trying to expand its sales network. In November 2008, the company signed strategic cooperation contracts with other companies, under which the companies sell each other’s products.

Analysts have also advised companies to develop sales networks to deliver products directly to every small grocery and to every family. They have pointed out that in rural areas, people don’t purchase goods because there are no goods to purchase, not because people don’t have a demand.

VietNamNet/SGTT

-->Read More ==>

US nuclear power technology introduced in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Nuclear Energy Institute and the US’ Westinghouse Power Company last week introduced AP 1000 nuclear power technology at a workshop in Hanoi.

According to Westinghouse, the advantages of this technology are that the production cost of generating nuclear power is very competitive and it is quite a bit safer than second generation technology.

In addition, with the small size and synchronous technology, nuclear power plants applying AP 1000 are simple to run and maintain. Nearly 50% of nuclear power plants in the world are using Westinghouse’s technology.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien said that to ensure energy security, Vietnam must consider nuclear power. However, nuclear power is a very sensitive industry because it is dangerous.

Power generation is a very new industry in Vietnam so according to Tien, Vietnam’s greatest difficulty is a shortage of qualified human resources.

“Training takes a long period. To have human resources for the nuclear power industry, we have to call for the participation of overseas Vietnamese who have worked in the nuclear power industry. We also have to use retired scientists because they are very experienced,” Tien said.

Professor Pham Duy Hien, former Director of the Vietnam Power Energy Institute, said: “I’ve waited for a long time for such a workshop. Previous ones didn’t provide me with new information like this one.”

Hien said it is necessary to have some more specialised workshops for scientists to learn more about AP 1000 technology.

Faced with threats of power shortages and the increasing prices of coal and oil, the Vietnamese government agreed to speed up and double the scale of the first nuclear power plant project in Ninh Thuan province from 2,000 to 4,000 MW.

VietNamNet/VNE

-->Read More ==>

Problems plague new teacher rotation plan for poor rural areas

VietNamNet Bridge – A new teacher rotation project is facing some controversy. Director of the Institute for Educational Studies Prof Dinh Quang Bao spoke to Nong Thon Ngay Nay (Countryside Today) newspaper on the issue.

How do you evaluate the rotation project for teachers in disadvantaged areas?

Living conditions for these teachers needs to be improved so they can concentrate on their work.

For many years, the rotation of teachers from cities to remote and mountainous areas and vice versa was due to the State’s requirements and teachers’ aspirations, as well as volunteerism. However, it’s hard to bring volunteers from advantageous areas to poorer, more rural ones. Therefore, intervention from State administrative agencies in this issue is very necessary.

It should not be obligatory, but rather based on voluntary participation. I believe that there are still many teachers who are fearless of the hardships associated with moving to more disadvantaged areas.

Has this project caused any problems in educational quality?

Sometimes, yes. An extensive knowledge of local languages, customs and traditions is required for qualified teachers. As a matter of fact, teachers play the most important role in improving the quality of education. Newly rotated teachers would surely need more time to get to know new work areas.

How does the rotation project affect teachers?

If teachers rotate every five years, they, especially those who are moved to remote and mountainous areas from cities, will not be able to keep their minds on their work, as it takes one year for them to become familiar with the new place, and the second and third years to do the tasks and then from the fourth year onwards, they will be wondering where they will go next, as their five years will already soon be up. How can the teachers concentrate on their work under these conditions?

If this project is implemented, who do you think should be moved to these disadvantaged areas?

It would be better to send highly qualified teachers to poorer, rural areas, where they cannot only teach the children but also impart their experience and knowledge to other local educators.

However, in my opinion, local teachers should stay in their hometowns. A proper training strategy is required for these regions so that qualified teachers can be recognised. They will be the ones who help train other teachers. Co-ordinated training between teachers is best through the sharing information and experiences.

What are your proposals for this issue?

The State and Government need to simultaneously realise two things.

First, we would better appeal to teacher volunteers. I reaffirm my strong belief that there are still many volunteers who are willing to work in disadvantaged areas. For these people, the State and Government should have incentive polices such as an increased income and better assistance.

Additionally, living conditions for these teachers needs to be improved so they can concentrate on their work. Besides, it’s essential to work out policies for attracting teachers from advantaged areas as well as internal training in disadvantaged areas.

Secondly, we need to make teachers to participate in the rotation, as the shortage of educators in poor, rural areas is a serious problem. Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Education and Training should immediately conduct a survey on the number of teachers needed and which school subjects are suffering the most, so that there can be appropriate solutions to the issue.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

-->Read More ==>

Students, poor residents fear bus fee increase

VietNamNet Bridge – A proposal by the HCM City Department of Transport to increase bus fares is causing a stir among many poor students and residents.

Commuters from Nguyen Van Cu Street in Long Bien District take the bus from Ha Noi to neighbouring Hung Yen Province.

At the end of last year, the department submitted a plan to the municipal People’s Committee to increase local bus charges. If the proposal is approved, ticket prices would increase by VND1,000 from March 1st.

The price of a ticket for routes under 31km would then be VND4,000. Moreover, monthly vouchers would be replaced with books of 60 tickets, costing VND120,000 (US$7), and VND85,000 ($5) for students.

"When all things are increasing in price, how can students like me get by if bus prices also go up?" asks one student who must take two buses from her house to her university. If prices are to increase, she will have to spend VND16,000 each day travelling.

Nguyen Thu Thuy, a resident of District 6 and a regular bus passenger, says that monthly tickets should not be abolished.

"It doesn’t make sense to raise prices and abolish monthly tickets. Those monthly passes are very convenient for students," Thuy says.

Tran Quang Phuong, head of the department says that the increase is due to hikes in fuel prices, as well as basic salaries.

Moreover, statistics supplied by the department say that in 2008 the city had to subsidise VND625 billion ($35 million) for the bus services sector.

In regards to the abolition of monthly tickets, Phuong says that many passengers have complained of being discriminated, and this is not why the department has decided to replace it with 60-ticket booklets.

However, Thuy says that this should be solved by improving services, not getting rid of monthly passes.

Pham Xuan Mai, a lecturer at the HCM City University of Technology, says that increasing bus fees will stop many students from riding every day.

"Most passengers are people with low incomes or students. If the city wants to encourage people to travel by bus, prices should not be increased," he says.

Nguyen Huu Huong, head of the Transport Technique Faculty at the university, says that until the municipal infrastructure improves, subsidies for this kind of service should not be provided.

"Increasing bus prices will create more burdens for people on low incomes," says Huong.

The municipal People’s Committee has not yet made a final decision on the proposal.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

-->Read More ==>

"Slumdog Millionaire" wins big at 81st Academy Awards

British director Dan Boyle's rags-to-riches love story "Slumdog Millionaire" won big at the 81st Academy Awards Sunday night, grabbing eight Oscars including best picture and best director.

The film tells about a story of two brothers growing up in the slums of Mumbai, India, with one finding love and the other finding a life of crime.

"Slumdog Millionaire," which struggled to find a distributor and almost went direct to home video, had already won a Golden Globe, a Producers Guild award, a Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble cast, a best director honor from the Directors Guild of America and a best adapted screenplay award from the Writers Guild of America.

Many of the film's young stars were flown to Hollywood to attend the Oscar ceremony, and they all walked onto the Kodak Theater stage as the film's producer Christian Colson accepted the statuette.

"As you pull back the spine (of the story) is another spine, is the love story," said director Danny Boyle, who won the Academy Award for Best Director. "It's a chance to get yourself lost in romance."

Slumdog went into the ceremony with 10 nominations and walked away with eight. It only lost in one category -- sound editing. It had two nominations in the original song category.

Top nominee "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" had 13 nods, but won only three, for art direction, makeup and visual effects.

Meanwhile, Sean Penn won his second best-actor Oscar for his role in "Milk" and Kate Winslet took home her first Oscar statuette for best actress for her role in "The Reader."

The 33-year-old Winslet is the youngest actress to earn six Oscar nominations. The record was previously held by actress Bette Davis, who was 34 when she received her sixth nomination in 1942.

To win the Oscar, Winslet beat out Meryl Streep, who earned her record 15th nomination for her role as a strict nun in "Doubt." Katherine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson are tied for second with 12 nomination each.

"WALL-E" won the Oscar for animated feature film, while Japanese film "Departures" was named the best foreign language film.

Following is the list of winners at Sunday night's 81st Academy Awards ceremony, which was held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood of Los Angeles.

The Academy Award for best picture has gone to "Slumdog Millionaire," which ends the night with eight awards, including best director for Danny Boyle.

Danny Boyle won the best director Oscar for "Slumdog Millionaire."

The Academy Award for best actor was awarded to Sean Penn for his role in "Milk."

The Academy Award for best actress has been awarded to Kate Winslet for "The Reader."

The Oscar Award for best supporting actor went to the late Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight."

Popularity of "Slumdog Millionaire" unexpected

Chris Dickens, who won the Oscar for film editing for "Slumdog Millionaire", said Sunday night that he did not foresee the film's popularity.

"It wouldn't have even occurred to us," he said backstage at the Kodak Theatre where the Award Ceremony was held. "I'd never imagined that we'd have so many of us getting these awards."

He said the challenge of editing "Slumdog Millionaire" was in paring the complex story down to a reasonable length.

"There were big challenges to sort of make it work cohesively," Dickens said of the tale of a young man recalling his life in a series of flashbacks. "So many different images, so many different storylines going on. The challenge was to get it to fit together really neatly."

"Slumdog Millionaire" ended the night with eight awards, including best picture for producer Christian Colson and best director for Danny Boyle.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

-->Read More ==>

Local coaches disagree with Calisto’s plan

17:19' 23/02/2009 (GMT+7)

Coach Henrique Calisto.

VietNamNet Bridge – Members of the Coaching Council don’t agree with the plan for the national football team and the U-23 team submitted by chief coach Henrique Calisto.

According to this plan, the national team will convene for the first time on May 19, with half of the players being U23 players. After that, the national squad and the U-23 team will gather at the same time for subsequent gatherings.

The period from September to November will be the busiest time for both teams and for the coach as well.

According to the Coaching Council, it is risky to convene the two teams at the same time because it will be difficult for Calisto to work with two teams at once. This year, the U-23 has to concentrate its strength for the SEA Games while the national squad aims to enter the final of the Asia Cup 2011.

Calisto’s plan shows that the U23 and the national squad will have the same coaching board and the same chief coach. The Coaching Council didn’t agree, saying that one coaching board is unable to take care of two teams.

The Coaching Council also questioned the absence of coach Mai Duc Chung from the coaching board of U23 team. Last year Chung led U22 Vietnam (the core of this year’s U23) to the championship of the Merdeka Cup 2008.

The Coaching Council will directly question Calisto about his plan on March 4.

Calisto spoke with the local media about his plan.

Could you tell us the major contents of your meeting with VFF about the plans for national teams in 2009?

We sat together to work out the plans for the national squad and the U23 team at the upcoming qualifier round of Asian Cup 2011 and SEA Games 2009. We will make adjustments while we implement the plan based on the actual situation.

In May 2009, the national squad will convene with around 30 players, including U23 footballers. After a short time of practice, I will choose the official team for a friendly match against the Bahrain team on May 31.

In early September, U23 will take a 10-day training tour abroad.

In October, the national team will take part in the HCM City Cup. In November, the U23 team will join the VFF Cup while the national squad will play two matches in the qualifier round of the Asian Cup 2011. In December, U23 will attend SEA Games 2009.

We also plan to arrange one or two friendly matches against overseas clubs for the national squad and send the U23 team to the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.

We know that you will not call for any player of Binh Duong or Hanoi.ACB clubs for the gathering of the national team in May, why?

Binh Duong and Hanoi. ACB will participate in AFC Cup 2009 in May so VFF decided to not call up any player from the two clubs.

If the national team attends official tournaments, we will have to call for the best players but the team will only play friendly matches then so we don’t need to do so.

How many players do you plan to call for this gathering?

I’m considering choosing some new players for the national squad and U23 team but I haven’t made a final decision yet.

On this occasion, I would like to say that I didn’t say that I would change the “blood” of the national team or I would choose a massive number of new players for the team as some newspapers reported.

Do you feel heavy pressure?

It is not accurate to call it pressure because pressure only comes when we have tournaments. At this moment, I only see that we need to be more responsible, because we are the current Southeast Asian champion. We have to be more careful and serious.

VietNamNet/VNE/TP

-->Read More ==>