Metro hopes to carry 50m people annually



HCM CITY — Two metro lines will be completed by 2007, in HCM City, municipal authorities have announced.

"The metro should help ease traffic jams, reduce accidents, and cut commuting time. Less exposure to noise, dust and fumes will also benefit riders accustomed to driving motorbikes," Le Thanh Hai, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee said.

Budget to Central Highlands cultural activities: VND 1.4 trillion


(03/02/2004 -- 17:30GMT+7)

Ha Noi, March 2 (VNA)- The Government has approved a budget of 1.4 trillion VND for "development of cultural and information activities in the Central Highlands up to 2010".

The money will cover the protection and promotion of the region's selected cultural customs and assets, removal of bad social habits and promotion of new lifestyles with new concepts of cultural and artistic values.

Bird flu outbreak ‘partially contained’


HA NOI — An official announced two-thirds of provinces affected by the bird flu are nearly clear of infections, noting they are "partially containing" the outbreak.

Bui Quang Anh, spokesman for the National Steering Board for Bird Flu Control, said on Monday no new outbreaks had been detected for the past 10 to 25 days in 38 of the 57 provinces and cities hit by avian flu.

Anh said Long An, the first province struck by the virus, could be declared free of the bird flu as no infection had been recorded there in the past 30 days.

An American Veteran's Letter to Senator Brownback


SENATOR BROWNBACK:

War Veteran: Vietnam Is Moving In The Right Direction

Statement of Jaime Vazquez, Director of Veterans Affairs, Jersey City, N.J. To The Senate Sub-Committe on East Asia and Pacific Affairs

Washington, DC
Thursday, February 12, 2004

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committe, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, allow me to thank you for the opportunity of addressing you today on the very important issue of the relationships between the United States and the country of Vietnam.

Facts about religions in Vietnam


According to incomplete statistics, up to 19 million Vietnamese practice one religion or another, making up of about a quarter of the 80 million population. Among them, there are nearly 57 thousand in the clergy and over 10 thousand students. There are over 10 thousand religious groupings that are in control of nearly 23 thousand worshipping places throughout the country. Besides, there are over two thousand entities conducting charity operations.

1. Buddhism:

Nation takes action against bird flu



HA NOI — General Secretary Nong Duc Manh expressed concern about the avian influenza epidemic in Ha Noi last Friday.

Manh was briefed by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Huy Ngo, who is also chairman of the National Steering Board for Bird Flu Control.

The Politburo of the Communist Party issued last Saturday a directive to Party Committees and organisations at all levels, which said stamping out bird flu was an urgent task.

Vietnam remains safe destination to every visitor

Radio Voice of Vietnam, February 9, 2004


"We confirm that Vietnam remains a safe destination to every visitor and we encourage travel agents to continue arranging tours to Vietnam," said Pham Tu, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Tu said that although some groups of foreign travellers have cancelled their Vietnam tours, others are starting to book new tours. The number of tourist arrivals to Vietnam reportedly increased 17 percent year-on-year in January.

State banks outline plans to go public



HCM CITY— State-owned commercial banks are preparing for equitisation as Viet Nam continues its move into the world economy.

According to Tran Bac Ha, the general director of the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) his equitisation plan will be completed this year.

Vietnam's determination to fight terrorism restated


Vietnam is determined to uncompromisingly combat terrorism, said Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang at an Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Terrorism held in Bali, Indonesia, from February 3-5.

Mr Bang, who was head of a Vietnamese delegation to the conference, highlighted Vietnam's great efforts in co-operating with international organisations and other countries in the fight.

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