HA NOI A cold spell hit the northern provinces from yesterday, bring up to six days of temperatures of between 10-17 degrees C, according to the national Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
In mountainous areas, severe cold with temperature of 2-11 degree C may bring ice and snow. The southern part of the central region and the region would be hit by the cold front, the centre said.
According to the HCM City s Steering Committee of Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, high tides will rise three times from now until the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Water levels are predicted to reach 1.28m to 1.54m.
New year fireworks to cost $270,000
HA NOI About VND5 billion (US$270,000) will be spent on fireworks for a 15-minute display from midnight at 23 locations in Ha Noi on Lunar New Year s Eve - February 14, according to the municipal People s Committee.
The main locations are at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ly Tu Trong flower garden, Thong Nhat Park and Van Quan Lake. Other displays will take place in suburban districts.
Last year, the city set off fireworks at 17 locations.
Six extra trains provided for Tet
HCM CITY The Sai Gon Railway Station will put into use four extra trains every day from February 14-17 starting from HCM City to Nha Trang, Dieu Tri and Da Nang to meet travelling demand during and after Tet (Lunar New Year).
Passengers can buy tickets directly through booking agents, sending a text message to 6355 or ringing 08 3843 6528.
Da Nang Railway Station will also provide two extra trains starting from Da Nang to HCM City and has begun selling tickets from this week.
Sand exploitation probe speeds up
HA NOI Ha Noi s Department of Natural Resources and Environment has been asked to speed up collecting data about sand exploitation activities in the city and make a list of areas where the activity will be banned or suspended.
After inspecting 10 sand units operating over an area of nearly 290ha, the department found five operating with expired licences, and public land illegally being used for storing sand.
Lake dredging set to begin in earnest
HA NOI All the mud in Hoan Kiem Lake will be dredged in March, according to municipal s Science and Technology Department.
The Ha Noi People s Committee approved a plan to dredge the mud after a successful 10-day pilot plan in December last year.
Six new districts to be established in 2025
HCM CITY HCM City will establish six new districts with modern infrastructure and underground transport systems in 2025 following the Government s newly approved decision.
The city will be border seven nearby provinces including Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Tien Giang.
Typhoon victims to receive assistance
VIET NAM More than 56,000 people in areas hit by Typhoon Ketsana will benefit from a programme funded by "Plan in Viet Nam" and "World Vision Viet Nam" to be implemented from this month until June.
The programme aims to help disaster victims improve their lives and increase their disaster response capacity in the central provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and the Central Highland province of Kon Tum.
Under the "Typhoon Ketsana Emergency Recovery and Rehabilitation" programme, the two organisations will jointly spend around US$1.1 million to support children in with learning kits, repairs to their classrooms and buying desks and chairs. Affected families will also be assisted with basic construction materials, seeds, fertiliser and livestock.
Ha Noi to sell 7,000 State apartments
HA NOI Ha Noi s Construction Department has set a target to sell 7,000 State-owned apartments this year to people who have been renting the apartments.
Relevant agencies will issue about 10,000 new certificates of land-use rights and house ownership.
At present, the city has about 45,000 State-owned apartments with the total area of 1.2 million square metres including 40,000 that are able to be purchased. VNS