Draft law on rights of association, draft resolution on anti-corruption body accepted

Mon, 08/28/2006 - 11:32

Most of the National Assembly "full time" deputies have accepted the 11-time re-written draft law to ensure citizens the right of association.

The right was written into Viet Nam's 1992 Constitution, the deputies reminded themselves when they debated the proposed law on Aug. 23.

"The citizens shall enjoy freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of the press, the right to be informed and the right to assemble, form associations and hold demonstrations in accordance with the law," Article 69 of the Constitution says.

Symbol of fight against Agent Orange dies

Fri, 08/25/2006 - 10:49

Michael Ryan says his daughter Kerry is a Vietnam veteran, just like him.

"She belongs on the wall in Washington, D.C.," he said yesterday. "She is a casualty of Vietnam the same as any man on there."

Kerry Ryan, 35, died Monday morning in her home in Boca Raton, Fla., of kidney failure after a life spent dealing with 22 major birth defects her family attributes to Agent Orange, a chemical used to defoliate the jungles of South Vietnam and Cambodia during the war. Kerry stood as an example of the herbicide's alleged harm to veterans' children.

Vietnam radio broadcasts first M'Nong ethnic language

Mon, 08/21/2006 - 12:07

Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) launched its first broadcast in the M'Nong ethnic language on 19 August. The M'Nong-language broadcast, the eleventh service of the VOV for ethnic minority groups, will be aired six times a day at 6020KHz SW (short wave), AM and FM. The 30 minute-broadcast will discuss local social-economic development and provide cultural programmes for M'Nong ethnic people.

Gov’t to accept complaints against bureaucracy online

Sun, 08/20/2006 - 14:54

Complaints about red tape can be made through the government’s website at www.chinhphu.vn, the Vietnamese Government Office announced on Friday.
It said the website would receive complaints about hurdles in carrying out administrative formalities and harassment by government officials or administrative agencies.

The website management will transfer these complaints to the Government Office’s Administrative Reform Division or to the Prime Minster’s office for consideration.

Source: Thanh Nien News

US official says religious conditions improve in Vietnam: report

Fri, 08/18/2006 - 11:00

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Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Nguyen Thanh Tai (R), receives US ambassador for international religious liberty, John V. Hanford

Vietnam to Host Asia-Pacific Photo Forum

Wed, 08/16/2006 - 10:18

Vietnam will host the Asia-Pacific Photography forum 'Crossing Bridges' at the end of August.

This year will see Crossing Bridges in Sapa and Hanoi with participation of 40 foreign photographers and Vietnamese members of photography websites.

Crossing Bridges links photographers across the Asian-Pacific region. Over the past three years the forum has gathered a number of brilliant figures with more than 100,000 members from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and recently Vietnam.

Americans opt for Vietnam

Sat, 08/12/2006 - 14:46

It’s cheap, it’s safe and there's much to see and do, so it’s no wonder that more and more Americans are coming to Vietnam these days.halong.jpg

“What happed with earthquakes and tsunamis in other parts of the region, Americans want to travel to Vietnam”, says Mr. Losebastien, Secretary General of the ASEAN Tourism Association.

Vietnam House mulls ways to protect employee interests

Thu, 08/10/2006 - 17:11

Standing deputies of Vietnam National Assembly began Thursday deliberating the amended Labor Law with provisions governing legal labor strikes topping the agenda.

According to the draft law, walkouts are deemed legal when they take place to protest against employers who violate the labor code.

However, the bill also governs that disputes must be referred to civic courts for ultimate decisions.

Hanoi Deputy Nguyen Manh Cuong threw his support behind the piece of legislation, saying fair verdicts made by the courts would protect workers’ rights.

A.O. Victims Get National and Intl Support and Assistance: VoV

Thu, 08/10/2006 - 17:02

According to statistics provided by scientists from Colombia University in the US, around 80 million litres of toxic chemicals containing 61 percent of Agent Orange (AO) and 366 kg of dioxin were sprayed over approximately 17 percent of southern Vietnam between 1961-1971.

US Treasury Secretary to attend APEC meetings in Hanoi

Thu, 08/10/2006 - 10:37

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam to attend the finance ministers meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) on September 7-8.

Secretary Paulson will use this opportunity to expand on the US Administration’s dialogue with the major economies in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition to bilateral meetings with his counterparts attending the APEC meetings, Secretary Paulson expects to meet with Vietnamese officials who are leading the country's reform program and integration into the global economy.

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