Domestic firms call for competition reforms

Fri, 08/22/2003 - 12:11



HA NOI — Business leaders are feeling the pressure from foreign competitors and have called on both Government and business to make substantial changes so Viet Nam’s economic integration will be a success.

The entrepreneurs sounded the warning at a symposium in Ha Noi on Sunday, where they gathered to suggest ways to stimulate a domestic economy they described as "not competitive and sluggish."

VN condemns UN blast

Fri, 08/22/2003 - 12:07


HA NOI — Viet Nam has sent its sympathies to the victims of a car bomb which tore through the United Nations’ headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday.

"We were very shocked at the bomb attack on the UN headquarters in Iraq on August 19, causing huge losses in life and property, and we strongly condemn this violent action," Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesman, Le Dung, said on Wednesday.

Ha Noi’s past gets a facelift

Wed, 08/20/2003 - 12:06

by Phuong Anh

An old postcard of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter would show a district that is worlds apart from today’s hustle and bustle, as the capital city’s trademark is quickly losing touch with its ancient features.

Leading historian Duong Trung Quoc is among the Hanoians who are getting homesick without leaving the city, as they feel out of touch with their own past.

"There is very little space of the Old Quarter left unchanged," he laments. "This is reflected in the architecture as well as the local spirit and culture."

The belated reunion of a war photographer and his subject

Tue, 08/19/2003 - 00:42



by Tri Binh

He became famous through a war photograph – then disappeared.

Soldier Le Xuan Chinh was presumed dead by many, including the man who took the well-known picture, former war correspondent Doan Cong Tinh.

In fact the young fighter had survived the horrendous fighting in the American War. But only to go on to a life of poverty in the remote north.

How Chinh finally found redemption is a tale of compassion and coincidence – all of it revolving around that one photograph.

A rocket-launcher by his side

Ten-year-old boy wins maths prize

Tue, 08/19/2003 - 00:37



HCM CITY — A fifth-grade student from HCM City has developed software on math study for first-grade students.

Nguyen Khanh Anh Hoang, 10, a student at the Nguyen Dinh Chinh Primary School in Phu Nhuan District, won one of five top prizes for his software "I Love Studying Math" at a national competition for young information technology (IT) students, held recently in Da Nang.

Speech by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan

Thu, 08/07/2003 - 10:43



WTO Seminar, Hanoi Aug 5-6, 2003

Ladies and Gentlemen:

First of all, on behalf of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I would like to highly appreciate the initiative of New York Life International and U.S. – Vietnam Trade Council, and other significant Vietnamese agencies, to cooperate in organizing this seminar on the relevant topic of Vietnam acceding membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The winding road to WTO more difficult each day

Wed, 08/06/2003 - 10:29


VietNamNet – At the Moving towards WTO membership workshop on August 6, Demetrios J. Marantis, legal chief advisor of the Vietnam–US Trade Council said that Vietnam should accelerate its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) because the path will become increasingly difficult. In addition, after the Doha round, new conditions for WTO membership may be set.

VN sets sights on WTO entry by 2005

Wed, 08/06/2003 - 10:22



HA NOI — Viet Nam is accelerating its negotiations to join the World Trade Organisation by 2005 to ensure greater access to overseas markets, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day seminar about Viet Nam’s bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Khoan said the membership move would benefit enterprises and consumers, as well as restructure the whole economy.

Local shrimp exporters urged to reduce heavy reliance on America

Wed, 08/06/2003 - 10:21

The Sai Gon Times Daily
August 6, 2003


America's Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) a coalition of eight southern and eastern seaboard states may file legal action against foreign shrimp exporters, including of Vietnam, said Deputy Fisheries Minister Nguyen Thi Hong Minh.

Speaking at a conference of shrimp exporters in HCMC on Saturday, she said the best way to deal with the situation was to "cut shrimp shipments to the U. S. market."

Agent Orange fund needs more to succour sufferers

Mon, 08/04/2003 - 17:18



HA NOI — The Fund for Agent Orange Victims has spent up to VND23 billion (US$1.5 million) to help people across the country, since it was established five years ago, its director Le The Son said last Friday.

"The money has helped improve living conditions for 220,429 agent orange victims. Among them, 91,000 were given free treatment, and 1,350 received plastic surgery and rehabilitation."

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