VN folk, US jazz hits just the right note with fans



by Duc Ngoc

HCM CITY — HCM City’s Dong Dao music club was lit with the spirit of jazz and Vietnamese music on Thursday as American pianist John Alex Ferguson and his group American Voices joined local stars in a one-night show.

The repertoire of Vietnamese love songs and American jazz pieces had the audience spellbound. Hong Nhung performed Trinh Cong Son’s Ru Tinh (Lullaby to Love) beautifully and CamVan, with piano accompaniment by Ferguson, sang musician Kim Tuan’s Bien Can (Ocean Drying Up).

Defence Minister ready to visit US

Viet Nam News

November 10, 2003

HA NOI — Viet Nam’s Defence Minister Pham Van Tra was set to leave for the US on Sunday for a four-day visit to the country.

Tra would also visit Brazil from November 13-15 and Belgium from November 16-19.

The visit, at the invitation of the US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, Brazil’s Minister of Defence Jose Viegas, and Belgium’s Minister of Defence Andre Flahaut, aims at promoting relations between Viet Nam and the three countries.

Places of worship abound as U.S. debates sanctions

Thu, 11/06/2003 - 23:20


The Washington Times, May 29, 2003


As religious freedom legislation aiming at Vietnam makes its traditional way through the U.S. legislative process, pagodas and churches in Vietnam are open and well visited. There is an obvious discrepancy between the perception of religious freedoms in the halls of the U.S. Congress and for the observer on the ground.

MOFA's Spokesman on investigation into Tiger Force crimes

ANSWER BY MOFA’S SPOKESPERSON, MR. LE DZUNG, TO CORRESPONDENTS ON NOVEMBER 6th , 2003


AP: Please advise reaction to the recent decision by the US army to reopen investigation into the killing of Vietnamese civilians by a Tiger force unit? The Toledo Blade reveals that 2 members of the unit might be prosecuted. Is Vietnam supportive of the prosecution?

REUTERS: Can you please comment on a report from a US newspaper that says Vietnam’s military is investigating the war crimes committed by the Tiger Force unit.

Answer:

Heyday of Vietnamese Buddhism: chief monk

Thu, 11/06/2003 - 22:09



On October 29, the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, permanent deputy president of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's Executive Council and National Assembly (NA) deputy of the Hanoi constituency, spoke before the NA about the current situation of the Sangha. To shed light on his speech, Lao Dong (Labour) daily newspaper interviewed the Most Venerable on the sidelines of the NA. Following is the interview:

Q: How do you judge the Party and government's policies towards religion, including Buddhism?

Vietnamese Defense Minister's visit to the United States

ANSWER BY MOFA’S SPOKESPERSON, MR. LE DZUNG,
TO CORRESPONDENTS ON NOVEMBER 6th , 2003

Many correspondents: Please advise the programme, significance and purposes of the US visit by Defense Minister Pham Van Tra, agenda of the talks and other meetings?

Answer:

Groups, vets deliver wheelchairs to Vietnam

DulluthNewsTribune.com
Posted on Tue, Nov. 04, 2003


A group of Northland residents, including two Vietnam War veterans, leave today for Vietnam, where they will distribute 450 wheelchairs.

Sponsors of the trip are Hope Haven International Ministries of Rock Valley, Iowa, the local chapter of Wheels in Motion and the Northland Vietnam Veterans Association.

Fletcher Hinds and Tim Dieffenbacher, both St. Louis County social workers and Vietnam veterans, are joining a dozen others making the trip.

Young envoy in Vietnam

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com


By Margie Mason
Published October 17, 2003


DANANG, Vietnam — Alex Huff is hard to miss among the dozens of children in the cafeteria at Phan Thanh elementary school. Blond-haired, blue-eyed and towering over his classmates, his legs are so long that his knees nearly touch his chest as he sits at a plastic table slurping up beef-noodle soup and milk.

Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc talks of US trip

Copyright 2003 BBC Monitoring/BBC
BBC Monitoring International Reports
October 16, 2003

Vietnamese Planning and Investment Minister Vo Hong Phuc has said the
country must step up efforts to promote investment opportunities to the US
business community on his return from a five-day visit to Washington and
New York. He said he found support amongst US businessmen for Vietnam in the catfish dispute, and said favourable conditions must be created for US investors in areas that may cause trade conflicts in the future, such as

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