Tropical storm Talas made landfall in the central provinces of Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh at around 1am on Monday, resulting in strong wind and heavy rainfall in the region that killed at least one person and destroyed thousands of houses.

More than 1,500 blood donors have taken part in a festival in Quy Nhơn city in the central province of Bình Định as part of the Hành Trình Đỏ (red journey), a nationwide annual blood donation drive.

The 24th Mùa hè xanh (Green Summer) Volunteer Campaign kicked off in HCM City yesterday attracting over 60,000 youngsters.

Kanchia, a shy 18-year-old woman, was breastfeeding her infant when a most extraordinary request was made of her.

Experts called for more buses and bus routes and controls on private cars and motorcycles to help ease traffic congestion in HCM City.

Nearly 200 scientists, biologists and conservationists all agreed to reserve top priority on biodiversity protection and stop construction any buildings on the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve of Sơn Trà Peninsula.

Coastal localities, especially central provinces of Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh, have mobilised all sources to prepare for tropical storm Talas that is predicted to make its landfall on the seashore from Thanh Hóa to Hà Tĩnh by 4am today (Monday) with torrential rains of up to 350mm.

A national hotline that would provide legal consultation and assistance to victims of sexual abuse and violence will be launched in the near future, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Bình Định Province People’s Committee has urged sectors and localities to work together to tackle low-quality steel-hulled fishing vessels and to direct fishermen to use quality shipbuilding facilities.