Accidents down but roads remain unsafe

Mon, 11/17/2003 - 23:51



HA NOI (November 17, 2003) — Minister of Transport Dao Dinh Binh told the National Assembly the number of traffic accidents on Viet Nam’s roads had fallen, but admitted that his ministry had failed to sort out ongoing problems of road safety and construction.

In a question and answer session broadcast live on television on Thurday, Binh said traffic had become more law-abiding as a result of the timely publication of guiding documents, greater efforts in dealing with violations, and the raising of people’s road safety awareness.

Deputies query top judge about the quality of trials

Mon, 11/17/2003 - 23:49



HA NOI (November 17, 2003)— Both the quality of trials and the competence of the judiciary were at the heart of many questions asked of the Supreme People’s Court’s Chief Judge, Nguyen Van Hien, in the National Assembly last Saturday.

The deputies conceded that much progress had been made in judicial reform but said much remained to be done.

VN agriculture prepares for free trade

Mon, 11/10/2003 - 18:00


November 10, 2003

HCM CITY — The planned entry of Viet Nam into the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) in early 2004 would provide both opportunities and tough challenges for the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

By entering ACFTA, Viet Nam would be well placed to develop new markets for its products, especially crops such as coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, vegetables and tropical fruits, which it could produce more cheaply than its ASEAN neighbours.

Places of worship abound as U.S. debates sanctions

Thu, 11/06/2003 - 23:20


The Washington Times, May 29, 2003


As religious freedom legislation aiming at Vietnam makes its traditional way through the U.S. legislative process, pagodas and churches in Vietnam are open and well visited. There is an obvious discrepancy between the perception of religious freedoms in the halls of the U.S. Congress and for the observer on the ground.

Heyday of Vietnamese Buddhism: chief monk

Thu, 11/06/2003 - 22:09



On October 29, the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, permanent deputy president of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's Executive Council and National Assembly (NA) deputy of the Hanoi constituency, spoke before the NA about the current situation of the Sangha. To shed light on his speech, Lao Dong (Labour) daily newspaper interviewed the Most Venerable on the sidelines of the NA. Following is the interview:

Q: How do you judge the Party and government's policies towards religion, including Buddhism?

Swedish visitor: Vietnam much more beautiful than I thought

Sun, 11/02/2003 - 14:32


Radio Voice of Vietnam , November 2, 2003


Many foreigners found a good impression of Vietnam and its capital city from the beginning of their visit. Ms. Asa Wisburg, a Swedish reporter, told VOVNews she would take good memories of Vietnam back to Sweden.

Reporter: This is your first time in Vietnam. Do you see any big differences between Hanoi and other capitals you have visited?

State to shed most insurance stakes

Fri, 10/10/2003 - 14:36




Vietnam News
- (10/10/2003)

The Government has drawn up a schedule to partially divest its stakes in insurance companies, except the Viet Nam Insurance Corporation, by 2010.

Under a Strategy for Development of the Insurance Market it announced last month, the Government will develop the giant corporation (Bao Viet) into a financial group straddling the insurance, securities and investment sectors.

A land of timeless images

Wed, 10/08/2003 - 14:50


By Bettina Wassener
Financial Times.com
Oct 03, 2003


The horrors and complexities of Vietnam never die. At least not in the movies. The Quiet American, released earlier this year, once again catapulted this elegant long, thin, watery strip of a country back onto the international movie screens, and thence into the consciousness of viewers on both sides of the Atlantic.

VN sustains highest regional growth

Fri, 10/03/2003 - 16:19



Ha Noi — Viet Nam’s GDP almost hit the Government’s growth target of 7.5 per cent this year, despite war in Iraq and the SARS outbreak.

The Asian Development Bank’s Outlook 2003 Update, released on Tuesday, stated the country’s gross domestic product grew by 6.9 per cent in the first half of this year, the highest in Southeast Asia.

Strong domestic demand, moderately expansionist monetary and fiscal policies and prudent economic management prompted the growth.

The report projected Viet Nam’s 2003-04 GDP to be about 7 per cent.

Education Ministry plans higher spending next year

Fri, 10/03/2003 - 16:18



HCM CITY — The Government will increase its budget for education next year to help fast-track this pivotal area in the nation’s development, says the Ministry of Education and Training.

The director of the ministry’s Finance and Planning department, Nguyen Van An, said the Government plans to spend VND25 trillion (US$1.6 billion), or 17.1 per cent of the State budget, for education development in 2004. That marks an increase of VND1 trillion or 0.7 per cent over last year.

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