Foreign artists pump “new blood” into Vietnam showbiz

Wed, 09/08/2004 - 17:06

The increasing number of famous foreign artists performing in Vietnam’s popular broadcasted live shows not only brings new blood to Vietnam’s music industry, but also shows the industry’s strong development.

However, foreign artists’ performances in Vietnam are not completely new. Besides the many foreign singers and music bands from countries like the U.S. and the Philippines performing regular shows at bars and restaurants in Vietnam, the country has also had the honor of live music shows, though rare, by foreign artists like Bryan Adams and Sting.

Korean version of online appeal for Agent Orange victims

Wed, 09/08/2004 - 17:03

The online petition to support Vietnamese Agent Orange victims now has a Korean version at www.vnkronline.net/petition/petitionk.html, launched by the online forum of Vietnamese students in Korea. The appeal also has versions in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian and German at http://www.petitiononline.com/AOVN/petition.html and www.aafv.org.

Projects on AIDS awareness launched in HCMC

Tue, 08/31/2004 - 22:54

VietNamNet – HCM City has launched two HIV/AIDS control projects funded by the Global Fund and DFID, dedicated to change people’s awareness on people living with HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS control among communities.

The Global Fund project will be carried out in the districts of 1, 4, 5, 6, Go Vap, Phu Nhuan and the Phu Van Drug Addict Rehabilitation at a cost of VND1.4bil in 2004. Under the project, the first centres providing free HIV/AIDS testing will be set up in those districts.

President announces prisoner amnesty 2004 -2005

Tue, 08/31/2004 - 21:55

VietNamNet – On the occasion of the National Day, September 2, Vietnam’s President is to grant amnesty to 8,611 prisoners and absolve 12 offenders, currently serving prison sentences.
On August 30th, it was announced that prisoners to be released are 560 Vietnamese and 51 foreigners, include 28 are from neighbour China, 13 from Laos, six from Cambodia, three from Australia and one from Japan.

Agent Orange lawsuit lets world know about VN victims, researcher

Tue, 08/31/2004 - 21:53

An Agent Orange/dioxin researcher considers the lawsuit filed by Vietnamese victims against U.S. chemical companies an important historic event which will let the world know more about the victims in Vietnam.
Dr. Nguyen Van Tuan said that the lawsuit was the first time that Vietnamese people could raise their voices to let the world gain deeper insights into the situation of Agent Orange victims in Vietnam.

Unexpected success of online appeal for Agent Orange victims

Tue, 08/31/2004 - 21:51

Nearly 323,000 people worldwide added their names to an online petition to support Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange as of August 24.
This is an unexpected success for the creator of the initiative, who at the beginning only aimed for 300,000 signatures by December.

On average, the petition has received 20,000 signatures every day, said Mr. Len Aldis, Secretary of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society (BVFS) and also the creator of the online petition, in a recent interview with the BBC. He now hopes the number of signatures will reach 1 million by the end of the year.

Industrial production up for second trimester

Fri, 08/27/2004 - 16:30

Econet - State-owned enterprises increased industrial production by 11.8%. A year-on-year industrial production value increase of 15.4 % was seen over the January – August period, according to the Ministry of Industry.

State-owned enterprises increased production by 11.8%, private enterprises 21.6%, and foreign-invested firms 14.9%.

High growth was reported in coal, seafood processing, cotton, crude oil and knitwear production, despite the rising prices on petrol and other input materials.

Construction of new Tan Son Nhat airport starts

Fri, 08/27/2004 - 16:28

VietNamNet – Construction of the new Tan Son Nhat Airport began this morning, August 27, in HCM City.

The new airport is planned to open by the end of 2006, equipped with equipment that meets international standards, including 10 luggage conveyor belts, eight sky bridges, 20 escalators, 18 elevators, flight information boards and security equipment.

Vietnam to lay optical cable in 2008

Fri, 08/27/2004 - 16:27

VietNamNet – An 80Gbps optical cable route linking north and south should be operational by March 2008, according to the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT).

The corporation also plans to install two optical cables linking Vietnam – Hong Kong – Singapore, and Vietnam – Hong Kong.

Govt plans to put a kindergarten in every commune

Fri, 08/27/2004 - 16:15

HA NOI — The education and training sector aims to open kindergartens in the 13 remaining communes without the schools during the 2004-05 school year, said Prof Dr Le Thi Anh Tuyet.

Dr Tuyet, director of the Education and Training Ministry’s Department of Kindergarten Education, spoke at a conference to review the last kindergarten year and to plan for the new academic season.

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