PM to fund trade promotion projects

Thu, 03/10/2005 - 11:08

HA NOI — Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has approved a list of 169 trade promotion projects to receive Government funds this year. The funding will be worth roughly VND600 billion (US$38 million), the Ministry of Trade announced yesterday at a press conference.

"The number of approved projects this year is roughly 20 more than last year because trade promotion is now considered a key factor to helping the country meet its annual export target of $31.5 billion, or 19 per cent more than last year," said Trade Deputy Minister Luong Van Tu.

APEC report praises Vietnam trade liberalization

Thu, 03/10/2005 - 11:04

Vietnam has made significant progress in trade and investment liberalization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation, or APEC, said in a report at an Asian-Pacific states meeting Mar. 9.
Hanoi has taken effective steps forward in carrying out tax reforms and removing trade barriers and its controlling administrative system, said the report, which gave APEC assessment over Vietnam’s annual Individual Action Plan (IAP).

Vietnam continues WTO talks with U.S., Japan

Thu, 03/10/2005 - 10:51

This month, Vietnam will continue its talks with the U.S. and Japan on entering the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a bid to become a WTO member by its target date of late 2005.
Vietnam and the U.S. will proceed with negotiations about the former’s WTO entry efforts in Washington D.C. March 14 to 16, according to Vietnam Ministry of Trade.

High on the agenda will likely be Vietnam’s taxation system and its opening up of markets in the telecommunications, banking and financial service sectors. The U.S. had demanded Vietnam clarify some issues by the end of February.

Rural women blaze trail to prosperity

Tue, 03/08/2005 - 14:59

BAC GIANG – Overcoming poverty and challenges posed by life, the women from a rural commune of Bac Giang northern province have laboured to prosper from family farming.

A case in point is Nguyen Thi Nhien, 43, from Tu Mai Commune of Yen Dung District, who now owns a modern house with all amenities, and has her two children studying in universities.

Programme preserves Cham language

Tue, 03/08/2005 - 14:54

HA NOI — The southern province of Ninh Thuan, home to half of the ethnic Cham population, has announced a plan to strengthen the Cham language teaching staff of schools in the Cham communities.

Over the past 20 years, the Cham language teaching programme has contributed to the preservation of the ethnic minority group’s language and has created a foundation to research the culture, said director of the provincial Education and Training Service, Pham Hong Cuong.

Financial Times: Vietnam More Than a Tourism Alternative

Tue, 03/08/2005 - 14:49

After the tsunamis wreaked havoc on beach resorts in the region, Vietnam’s Victoria Phan Thiet resort received urgent calls from European tour operators looking for alternative destinations.

Gilles Poggi, general manager of the Victoria, who had lost a close former colleague when the giant waves hit Thailand, was taken aback. "Everyone was shocked at this terrible tragedy," he said. "But the show must go on. These were travel industry professionals. People had their trips cancelled and had to be offered an alternative."

Tommy Tang: "Pho

Tue, 03/08/2005 - 14:41

Renowned US personality and Chef Tommy Tang came to Vietnam to shoot part of his hit TV series Let’s Get Cooking with Tommy Tang. Thanh Nien interviewed him to get his side of the story.

Hi! You must be exhausted after a long journey.

Exhausted? Never! (laugh) Since I came to Vietnam, I did not have one day off. I hope that I can relax in Ho Chi Minh City.

What did you do during your trip to the North Vietnam?

Tourism Industry Targets 3.2 Million Foreign Visitors in 2005

Mon, 03/07/2005 - 10:33

In 2005, national tourism industry sets the target of receiving 3.2 million foreign tourists and 15 million domestic tourists and with the revenue of VND 30 trillion. To this end, tourism industry has get prepared for all tourist activities on the basis of the past achievements.

Dollar-Friendly Destinations: Vietnam

Thu, 03/03/2005 - 15:30

BusinessWeek, FEBRUARY 28, 2005

Internatioinal Support for Agent Orange Victims Grows

Wed, 03/02/2005 - 11:56

Radio Voice of Vietnam, March 1, 2005

*** No decision has been made at the first hearing of the lawsuit filed by the Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO) victims against 37 US chemical companies which produced and supplied toxic chemicals for US troops to spray in Vietnam during the war between 1961 and 1971.

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