Country set for Hung Kings Festival

Fri, 04/08/2005 - 15:41

Hundreds of thousands of locals and foreign travel-lers will have a chance to join the Hung Kings Anniversary and Hung Temple Festival 2005 starting next Wednesday in the midland province of Phu Tho.

"The festival is aimed at confirming the position and great meaning of the anniversary of the death of our Hung Kings," said Nguyen Thi Kim Hai deputy head of the State festival organising committee. "It is a day of national patriotism and expressing our profound gratitude toward the Hung Kings and our ancestors for building our country and defending it."

Vietnam must turn to transparency to tackle graft; PM

Fri, 04/08/2005 - 15:30

Vietnam needs to resort to transparency and openness to fight against corruption, which still remains a constant problem, the prime minister said at a meeting with international donors April 8 in Hanoi.
Vietnam is working on formulating an anti-corruption law, PM Phan Van Khai said in the 100th session of the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Monthly Donor Group Forum.

Vietnam PM wants higher quality bills for WTO entry

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:41

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai recently demanded the process of making bills serving Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) be accelerated and of higher quality.

In his instruction, dated April 4, the government leader requested that ministers, leaders of government agencies and directors of the designated bill compilation committees strengthen their human resources and spend more time and money on making bills and ordinances so that they are completed on schedule and better quality.

Vietnam Prime Minister tenders condolence on Pope’s death

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:39

Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on Sunday sent a message of condolence to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano on the passing of Pope John Paul II.

The same day, Spokesman Le Dzung of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Vietnam “would like to convey deep condolences to the Vatican, the world Catholic community and all Christians in Vietnam on the passing of Pope John Paul II.”

Pope John Paul II died Saturday evening at 84 after suffering heart and kidney failure following two hospitalizations in as many months.

Vietnamese Catholics to mourn Pope for nine days

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:36

Vietnamese Catholics mourn the death of the late Pope John Paul during a memorial service at the St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi April 6, 2005.

Vietnam eyes easier import procedures for foreign firms

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:34

Vietnam’s trade ministry has urged the government to allow foreign-invested companies to import production materials without having to apply for approval from concerned authorities.
Currently, a foreign enterprise needs permission from either the administration or the trade and tourism department of the industrial zone, or the province where it is located to import equipment and machines to amass company assets and materials for production.

Easy for Vietnamese firms to do business in U.S.; experts

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:33

Vietnamese companies will face no hurdles in doing business in the United States if they are well-prepared, American economic lawyers and experts said in a seminar April 6 in Hanoi.
Vietnamese businesses do not have to apply for a license to operate in the U.S., Ross Meador, chairman of U.S. law firm Rogers & Meador LLP, said at the seminar.

The seminar discussed business opportunities in the U.S with about 100 Vietnamese entrepreneurs in attendance.

Nation to strengthen bond with overseas Vietnamese

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:31

HA NOI — The millions of Vietnamese people living and working abroad are a national treasure, playing an important role in and making effective contributions to the process of building the nation of Viet Nam, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phu Binh.

"We highly value the overseas Vietnamese community’s contributions to their fatherland," Binh said in a recent interview with the Associated Press.

Overseas Vietnamese encouraged to play in Vietnam

Thu, 03/31/2005 - 16:21

Overseas Vietnamese singer Duy Quang performing in the music show Duyen Dang Viet Nam
A new government directive would make it easier for overseas Vietnamese artists to return to play in Vietnam, an official said.

To receive permission to perform, an artist should submit to authorities a performance application along with verification from the organizer of their show in Vietnam, according to Mr. Le Nam, Head of the Arts Performances Management under the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Economy expands 7.2% despite droughts, avian flu, price hikes

Thu, 03/31/2005 - 11:12

HA NOI — Viet Nam’s economy managed to expand 7.2 per cent in the first quarter of this year despite prolonged droughts in the central and central highlands areas, the avian flu epidemic, and materials’ price hike, the Government said during a two-day meeting which closed yesterday in Ha Noi.

The Government’s figures matched the General Statistics Office’s report which revealed the first quarter’s growth was way lower than the Government’s full-year expectation of 8.5 per cent.

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