Hanoi Selected Top Five Asian Tourist Cities for Second Time

Tue, 10/04/2005 - 14:38

A leading US magazine has again selected Hanoi as one of the top five leading Asian cities for tourism for 2005.

Travel and Leisure magazine made the selection, heeding millions of readers on the basis of the city's landscapes, culture, people and food. The other four cities are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong and Kyoto.

The capital city of Vietnam ranked fifth this year, compared with fourth in 2004.

Vietnam Southern Hub Starts Online Customs Clearance

Tue, 10/04/2005 - 14:31

Vietnam’s commercial hub Ho Chi Minh City has for the first time launched official customs clearance via the Internet with US$1.5 million worth of goods being cleared.

The HCMC Customs Department approved up to 30 online customs declarations of five local companies on Wednesday.

The department said it had to spend only 2 minutes to approve one declaration, while the time could reach seven or eight hours for normal clearance.

From now to September 10, about 11 companies will get their goods cleared by the department via the internet.

Germans Win Doubles, Bjorkman Takes Singles at ATP Vietnam Open

Mon, 10/03/2005 - 10:21

Germans Lars Burgsmuller and Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Swede Jonas Bjorkman won the doubles and singles titles respectively at the inaugural ATP Vietnam Open in Ho Chi Minh City Sunday.

The Germans defeated Australian Ashley Fisher and Swede Robert Lindstedt 5-6, 6-4 and 6-2 in doubles action, while Bjorkman outpowered Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3 and 7-6 to take the singles crown.

Vietnamese Are Spending More

Mon, 10/03/2005 - 10:09

Statistics show consumer spending is on an upward trend in Vietnam, a favorable signal for foreign investment into the country.

Increased spending is one of the major factors drawing investors to Vietnam, with the large population and high growth also contributing to the country’s appeal. Vietnam has a population of more than 83.1 million for 2005, increasing by 1.35% year on year.

UNHCR Accompanies Montagnard Refugees Home to Vietnam

Mon, 09/26/2005 - 09:59

By Deborah Backus

http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=433427614  

PHNOM PENH, September 23 (UNHCR) – An unprecedented monitoring visit by the UN refugee agency to Vietnam's Central Highlands in the company of a group of returning Montagnards found all the returnees appeared glad to be back home and reunited with their families, UNHCR officials said.

American Singer with Message of Peace, Mutual Respect and Ethical Accountability

Thu, 09/22/2005 - 10:42

Viet Nam News, September 22, 2005

American folk singer and anti-war activist Peter Yarrow, of the group Peter, Paul and Mary, has recently carried his message of peace, mutual respect and personal, ethical accountability to Vietnam through performances for war victims organized by the Fund for Reconciliation and Development.

Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in New York Nguyen Anh Tuan spoke with Yarrow and John McAuliff, executive director of the Fund for Reconciliation and Development, about their concerns for Vietnamese war victims.

US Singer: We Owe Agent Orange Child Victims an Apology

Wed, 09/21/2005 - 14:37

Ha Noi - Septermber 19, 2005 (VNA) - US folk singer Peter Yarrow, who is in Vietnam to raise funds for Viet Nam's Agent Orange (AO) victims, said he felt he and his friends have the responsibility to make apologies to child AO victims for their sufferings.

Vietnam Sees Human Development Gains

Tue, 09/20/2005 - 16:52

Vietnam has displayed great gains in human development, but not all is a bed of roses, according to a major United Nations (UN) report.

luat_giaoduc_055.jpgVietnam has established a strong balance between its economic growth and human development, the 2005 UN Human Development Report says.

Vietnam Gives Visa Exemptions to Foreigners at Resort Island

Tue, 09/20/2005 - 16:46

Vietnam will lift visa requirements for foreign visitors to the southern resort island of Phu Quoc, which the government wants to develop into a leading ecological tourist site, media and officials said Tuesday.

Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese will no longer require visas if they spend less than 15 days on the island, known for its white sandy beaches, Tuoi Tre newspaper said. The new rule is to take effect Oct. 1, it said.

VASEP Supports Hurricane Victims

Tue, 09/13/2005 - 11:56

Viet Nam News, September 6, 2005

HA NOI — The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) is calling for its business members and Vietnamese fishermen to give material and spiritual support to Hurricane Katrina victims.

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