Viet Nam vows to strive for nuclear weapons-free world

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:41

MEXICO CITY — Along with other peace-loving nations, Viet Nam is committed to striving for a world free from nuclear weapons, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Luong Minh told a Nuclear-Free Conference in Mexico City last week.

As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Disarmament Conference, the Southeast Asian nuclear weapon-free zone, and a non-nuclear weapon state, Viet Nam supports disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, he said.

VN agrees to protect intellectual property

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:40

On April 6, 2005, Viet Nam officially acceded to the Geneva Convention for the protection of producers of phonograms against unauthorized duplication. Viet Nam will be responsible for enforcing the provisions of the convention as of July 6, 2005.

Vietnam businesses paying better to keep key employees

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:36

Businesses in Vietnam are paying much more attractive salaries in a bid to attract qualified employees and keep key staff amid fierce competition for the business brain.
The major weapon companies in Vietnam use to prevent losing key employees and recruit new people is high salaries, said headhunting companies.

Currently, a foreign-invested company in the country is willing to pay about VND20.2 million, or nearly US$1,300, a month for an executive director, according to research by international investment bank Dragon Capital.

Vietnam hopeful to conclude WTO talks with more partners

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:32

Vietnam on Thursday said bilateral talks over the country’s bid to join the World Trade Organization last month yielded high hopes of concluding negotiations with six more partners within some more rounds.

From April 6 to 16, Vietnamese negotiators worked with their counterparts from Uruguay, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Turkey over the opening up of Vietnam’s goods and services market.

Overseas Vietnamese musician returns to homeland

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:27

The renowned overseas Vietnamese musician and composer Pham Duy will return to his homeland to live and spend the rest of his days.

On Sunday, Duy held a farewell party with family and friends at Nghe Si club in Santa Ana, California before leaving for Vietnam.

Duy said he would stay at Ho Chi Minh City’s Saigon Star Hotel on May 17.

At the party, the musician also announced that he had finished recording his latest song adapted from the poem “Tay Tien” (Go Westwards) by Quang Dung.

Oil giant courts Talisman

Wed, 04/20/2005 - 15:58

The state oil and gas firm PetroVietnam expects to sign a contract this month with Talisman, Canada’s largest independent oil and gas company, to explore oil and gas in block 15-2/01 in Cuu Long basin, off the southern coast of Vietnam.

In his report to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai last week, PetroVietnam’s president Tran Ngoc Canh said the deal would most likely be signed by the end of this month.

Four months ago, the prime minister approved the bidding results, which allowed PetroVietnam to go ahead with negotiations with Talisman.

Life insurance firm reports first profits

Wed, 04/20/2005 - 15:50

HA NOI — Prudential Viet Nam yesterday announced its first yearly profit of VND61 billion (US$3.9 million) gained last year after five years operating in Viet Nam’s life insurance market.

The Ministry of Finance statistics reported the company last year earned a turnover of VND3.1 trillion ($197.5 million), representing more than 41 per cent of the country’s total life insurance market share.

Viet kieu singers return to their homeland

Wed, 04/20/2005 - 15:47

Overseas Vietnamese (Viet kieu) singers, some of whom were once famous before the end of the American War, are starting to return to Viet Nam, and are once again experiencing the thrill of performing in front of audiences who appreciates their music.

More than 70 Viet kieu singers have been allowed to perform in the country since 1991, said Le Nam, head of the Department for Arts and Performance Arts Management Office. More than ten Viet kieu are expected receive a license to restart singing in the country within this year, Nam added.

Tuan Chau Island – Paradise of Vietnam

Wed, 04/20/2005 - 15:36

Tuan Chau Island in northern Ha Long Bay, known as the “Garden of Eden”, stands out from the thousands of other islands on the bay because of its ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.

It’s not completely by chance that the island was host to many international events including the Miss Vietnam 2004 Beauty Pageant, 22nd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO) and ASEAN foreign minister conference last year.

The island’s lush greenery, white sands and international-standard facilities have attracted many visitors.

Viet Nam celebrates its Hung founders

Mon, 04/18/2005 - 10:54

Over a million and a half people travelled north this weekend to honour Viet Nam’s eighteen original kings. The Hung Kings Festival 2005 is bigger and brighter than ever before. Khanh Chi reports on the history and festivities.

Beginning at 7am tomorrow morning, Vietnamese from all the parts of the country will converge in the northern Phu Tho Province to celebrate and pay respects to the nation’s fathers, the Hung Kings.

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