Viet Nam-US Bilateral Agreement on Viet Nam's Accession to WTO Signed

The Ministry of Trade on May 31 issued a press release on the official signing of the Viet Nam-US bilateral agreement on Viet Nam's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Following is the full text of the press release: ki_WTO.bmp

Vietnam Province Well on the Way Setting up e-Governance

The northern Bac Ninh province has become Vietnam's first e-governed province with the introduction of electronic monitoring systems at its offices, local authorities said.

Vietnam Foreign Arrivals Up 10 pct

Vietnam welcomed 330,000 foreign visitors in May, an increase of 10 percent over the same period last year, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said. viewanh_n.gif
This took the total number of foreign arrivals this year to 1.6 million, it added.

Vietnamese Expats Learn Their Mother Tongue

Vietnam’s foreign ministry began Vietnamese lessons in Hanoi Wednesday for a group of Vietnamese expatriates from the US spending the summer in their native country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tran Quang Hoan, deputy chairman of the ministry’s committee for Vietnamese overseas, hailed the group members, all students or teachers at San Jose College and San Francisco University, for spending their holidays to learn about their culture and history.

Source: VNA, Thanh Nien News

Central Highland Cultural Heritage Display

gong.bmpAn exhibition of cultural artifacts of Vietnam’s Central Highlands region opened Thursday in the resort town of Da Lat in Lam Dong province.

The show features sets of gongs with 109 units totally from ethnic minorities in the five Central Highlands provinces, including a set with 22 gongs – the greatest number among the exhibits.

Vietnam, Cambodia to Crack Down On Cross-border Human Trafficking

Vietnam and Cambodia will crack down on human trafficking operations across the border between the two countries, the Ministry of Public Security said on 17 May.

The campaign, scheduled to begin in July 2006, is expected to create breakthroughs in the fight against woman and child trafficking, which has shown an increasing trend over recent years, the ministry said.

Ha Long Bay Cultural Center Built on Sea

A cultural center has been built on the water in Vietnam’s world famous Ha Long Bay to celebrate its heritage. halong_bay_139_06.jpg

UN Chief Arrives in Vietnam for First Visit

anan.bmpUnited Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Hanoi Tuesday evening for a three-day official visit which is expected to boost ties between Vietnam and the UN.
To the surprise of many locals, the UN chief and his wife Nane Annan came by economy class aboard a commercial flight from Beijing following a visit to China.

Lockheed Martin to Build Viet Nam’s First Satellite

Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications (VNPT) Corporation yesterday signed a contract with the American Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems to manufacture Viet Nam’s Vinasat communications satellite, the first of its kind for the country.

Lockheed Martin, with a proposal package of US$168 million, beat French EADS Astrium/Alcatel Alenia Space and Japanese Sumitomo Corporation. The initial investment budgeted by VNPT for the project was $270 million.

Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha Marks Buddha's Birth Anniversary

1205001.jpgThe Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) celebrated Lord Buddha's 2630th birth anniversary at the Viet Nam Buddhist Institute in Ha Noi's Soc Son outlying district on May 12.

Vice President Truong My Hoa, Vice Prime Minister Vu Khoan, President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Pham The Duyet and Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Ngo Yen Thi attended the ceremony.

Pages