Vietnamplus

The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long aims to supply clean water to 90 percent of its rural population by the end of 2015, 60 percent of whom will have access to local water supply systems, a 10 percent increase from 2014.

The northern province of Hai Duong is striving to have 99 percent of its rural population access hygienic water by the end of this year.

Vietnam’s countryside has gained a facelift during the five-year implementation of a national target programme on building new-style rural areas, an achievement greatly contributed by businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh on July 25.

Living conditions of local residents in 79 rural communes across the southernmost province of Ca Mau have been improved as a result of projects carried out from 2010-2015.

Hanoi and HCM City are still the most important cities for milk powder sales, while smaller cities/towns and rural areas also play an equally important role, according to a survey released by Nielsen Vietnam on July 22.

More than 80 percent of households in rural areas in the northern province of Thai Nguyen have access to clean water, according to the provincial Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Centre.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance have been tasked with allocating sufficient financial resources to localities for rural development, especially in disadvantaged areas.

As much as 83.9 percent of rural families, or 14.25 million households, across the country gained access to the national electricity grid as of June 2015, according to the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

Authorities at all levels in the central province of Quang Nam have devised concrete measures to accelerate modern rural area building in 2015, said Le Muon from the Steering Committee of the provincial programme.

The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong aims to help 99 percent of its rural population have access to hygienic water by 2020, 73 percent of which will use water that meets the Ministry of Health’s standards.

The movement of building new-style rural areas has come into the real life, satisfying farmers’ interests and creating a premise for sustainable development, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh said.

The central province of Nghe An has undertaken a number of efforts to accelerate the modern rural area building programme in 2015, according to the provincial Department of Agricultural and Rural Development.

The southern province of Dong Nai will provide Dong Nai power company with a 68 billion VND (3.15 million USD) loan to build a rural medium-voltage grid, according to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade.

Localities nationwide need to mobilise more resources for building rural transport infrastructure in the time ahead, which is a critical measure to successfully build new-style rural areas, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh.

The Mekong Delta City of Can Tho plans to upgrade its rural roads in line with standards set by the Ministry of Transport by 2020.

Only 37 percent of Hanoi’s suburban residents have access to clean water in 2015, lagging behind the city’s 60 percent target due to funding shortages and public awareness about safe water use.

The southern province of Dong Nai has recognised another 11 communes as new-style rural areas, reported a local meeting on June 22.