Vietnam cruise still popular despite SARS outbreak

Tue, 04/01/2003 - 10:08

Monday March 31, 8:17 PM
(Channel News Asia)

Despite the SARS scare, hundreds of passengers left Singapore on Sunday for a week-long cruise that includes Ho Chi Minh City as one of its ports of call.

Vietnam is one of the countries where SARS cases have been reported.

It was business as usual for the Superstar Virgo as passengers checked in for its maiden journey to Ho Chi Minh City, which also includes a stopover in Kota Kinabalu, during its eight-day trip.

Catholics pray for unity in year ahead

Mon, 03/24/2003 - 16:20

Viet Nam News, March 24, 2003

HA NOI — Leaders of the Viet Nam Committee for Catholic Unity (VCCU) have gathered in Ha Noi to discuss the committee’s plans of action, with focus on contributions to the current patriotic emulation and the great national unity.

Speaking at a two-day conference, which wrapped up yesterday, the VCCU President, Priest Nguyen Tan Khoa, reviewed the committee’s past activities and outlined its plan of actions for the coming years.

Conflict pushes up retail prices

Mon, 03/24/2003 - 16:17


HA NOI (March 24, 2003) — Local consumers are worried about what seems to be the beginning of an upward price spiral, as the retail prices of many goods and services on the market continue to rise over the US-Iraqi crisis.

According to a local newspaper report, the retail prices of commodities such as clothing and plastics have increased between 10 and 20 per cent since the beginning of March due to the higher cost of raw materials and petrol inputs.

Hair designer cuts imagination loose

Fri, 03/21/2003 - 11:21

( Viet Nam News, March 21, 2003)

In the past, the difficult lifestyle in Viet Nam meant that nobody had time to think of improving their looks. Today, businesswomen like Hoang Hai Yen, 34, have forged an empire devoted to beauty.

From humble beginnings when she opened her own business as a barber 14 years ago, she now runs the Yen Trang cosmetic salon network, employing 54 people.

"Everything I did depended so much on my inspiration and daring," says Yen. When she started her business, imaginative hair design was unheard of in Viet Nam.

PM announces taskforce to combat deadly killer virus

Fri, 03/21/2003 - 11:20


HA NOI (March 21, 2003)— Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has announced the setting up of a steering committee, under Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien, to combat the spread of the killer atypical pneumonia in the country.

The committee will also include the deputy ministers for Foreign Affairs, Culture and Information, Public Security, National Defence, Finance, and Transport and other officials.

Vietnam ensures safety for foreigners, foreign rep offices

Fri, 03/21/2003 - 11:09

(VNA, March 21, 2003)

The Vietnamese government has paid special attention to and taken effective measures to ensure safety for foreigners and foreign representative offices in Vietnam, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh on March 20.

She reiterated: "Vietnam will do its utmost to guarantee that this country is still a safe destination for both investors and holiday-makers."

Also at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on March 20, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Thanh said that the Vietnamese embassy staff in Iraq had already left Baghdad.

Meetings demand an end to war against Iraq

Thu, 03/20/2003 - 10:20

(Nhandan.org.vn, March 21, 2003)

Thousands of people across Vietnam gathered at meetings on March 20 to protest against the war, following military strikes launched by the US warlike administration and its allies against Iraq.

The participants called for urgent efforts from countries and international organisations to prevent the expansion of the war so as to protect peace and stability in the world.

Mystery bug in remission

Thu, 03/20/2003 - 10:09


HA NOI (VNS, March 20, 2003)— The atypical pneumonia that has killed a nurse and infected 58 others in the capital city seems to have stabilised, according to the Health Ministry.

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Van Thuong optimistically stated that the fatal disease seemed to be contained, when he spoke at the Party Ideology and Culture Commission’s regular media briefing on Tuesday.

He said that although there were no signs of further outbreaks, the ministry would stay on high alert as the mysterious pneumonia spread further around the globe.

Vietnam affirms peace and development essential for human rights

Thu, 03/20/2003 - 09:39

(VNS, March 19, 2003)

Peace, stability and development without interference are essential conditions to protect and promote human rights, affirmed Dao Viet Trung, assistant to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, on March 19.

Mr Trung is the head of the Vietnamese delegation to the UN High Commission's meeting being held in Geneva.

He said that exercising human rights should be an essential part of each nation's history, tradition, customs and culture.

Interview: PM Phan van Khai

Wed, 03/19/2003 - 18:06

Far Eastern Economic Review
March 20, 2003
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