Law may open doors to foreign merchants

Mon, 09/27/2004 - 11:12

Friday, September 24, 2004, Vietnamese News

Hanoi - A draft law to throw open trading to foreign businesses has come up before the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration. It is expected to go to the NA house for approval by year-end.

Hitherto, under the Trade Law enacted in 1997, foreign traders could open representative officers while trading was allowed only by Vietnamese businesses.

Though the current law also allows foreign traders to open branches in the country, it restricts the trading range of these branches.

VNPT to Be Divided into Two Corporations from Jan 2005

Thu, 09/23/2004 - 16:44

The Vietnam Post & Telecoms Corporation (VNPT) has said it is finalizing necessary procedures to split into two separate corporations from January 1, 2005, with one specializing in telecoms and the other in postal services.

The new corporations will be called the Vietnam Telecoms Corporation and the Vietnam Postal Corporation, which will be comprised of the Inter-provincial & International Postal Co., the Central Newspaper Publishing Co., the Postal Savings Co. and post offices at city and provincial level.

Vietnam to Achieve Strong Economic Growth in 2004-05: ADB

Thu, 09/23/2004 - 16:43

Vietnam looks set to achieve an economic growth of 7.5% in 2004 and 7.6% in 2005, compared with 7.1% last year, according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report "Asia Development Outlook 2004" released on September 22, on the back of strong domestic demand and robust industry sectors.

Accordingly, local demand in Vietnam will rise 8.7% this year and 8.1% in 2005 and export growth will be 16.3% and 12%, respectively.

Catholics in Bui Chu diocese live the gospel amidst the nation

Mon, 09/20/2004 - 17:44

Nam Dinh, Sept. 20 (VNA) - The Bui Chu diocese, on Monday, held a seminar on "the Catholics in Bui Chu diocese live the gospel amidst the nation, contributing to social security maintenance, and building a life of peace and happiness," in Quan Phuong Church in Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province.

Representatives of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, leaders of the Party Committees, People's Councils, and People's Committees of Nam Dinh province and Hai Hau district, priests, nuns and representatives of the Catholics attended the event.

National Assembly at odds with gov’t education report

Mon, 09/20/2004 - 17:39

The situation of Vietnam’s education may be seriously worse both academically and morally than stated in a recent Ministry of Education report, suggested National Assembly (NA) members on Sept. 20.

The report was presented by the Minister of Education Nguyen Minh Hien during the opening meeting of the NA Standing Committee’s 22nd session in Hanoi. But, some NA committees that had also done research on Vietnam’s education later painted a gloomier picture of the country’s education.

Vietnam beach resort in Asian top three; U.S. travel magazine

Mon, 09/20/2004 - 17:36

Ana Mandara Resort in Vietnam’s central beach city of Nha Trang was recently chosen as one of the three best Asia resorts in a reader poll of American magazine Condé Nast Traveler.
The U.S. magazine announced the poll results, which had 400,000 readers participate, in its August issue.

The resort, which overlooks Nha Trang Bay, also won the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism recognition as the best resort of Vietnam in the 2000-02 period.

Groundwork completed to realise policies toward Viet Kieu

Sun, 09/19/2004 - 14:51

VietNamNet – On September 16, Pham The Duyet, Chairman of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) had an online interview with VietNamNet readers about Politburo Resolution 36.

Vietnam concerned over China – Philippines Spratly oil deal

Fri, 09/10/2004 - 11:00

Vietnam said it was “deeply concerned” on learning that China and the Philippines concluded a joint oil and gas research agreement in the Truong Sa (Spratly) region “without consulting other concerned parties.”

Vietnamese government spokesman Le Dzung expressed the view at a news conference in Hanoi on Sept. 9, eight days after the oil research deal was signed in Beijing, China.

Vietnam sets up non-state school alliance, aims quality step-up

Fri, 09/10/2004 - 10:59

An association of Vietnamese non-state universities and colleges was officially established in Hanoi the morning of Sept. 9, with the aim of improving the training quality and standards of its members.
During its operation, the association will work out and propose to the Vietnamese government, the Ministry of Education and Training, appropriate agencies and its members strategies to reform the goals and contents of education programs, develop teaching staff, upgrade management schemes, improve financial efficiency and fulfill other tasks, according to local media.

Agent Orange suspected as cause of “cancer village”

Wed, 09/08/2004 - 17:08

One out of every ten households in a village in Quang Nam province has someone die from cancer, while cause can be traced back to the Agent Orange dropped here during the war.
With its death rates from cancer, village Number 3 of Tien An Commune in Quang Nam Province has been widely known as “the cancer village.”

Statistics show Village 3 with 207 households has had a total of 22 cancer deaths and still has many living victims who have not received adequate diagnosis and care.

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