Socialist Republic of Vietnam

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."

(07/25/2003 -- 23:08GMT+7)

Ha Noi, July 25 (VNA) - State President Tran Duc Luong has sent a letter of commendation and a gift to Doan Van Liu for helping more than 600 families of soldiers find the remains of their relatives.

Nguyen Quoc Trieu, Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee, on Friday presented the letter and gift to Liu at his home on Kham Thien street, Ha Noi.

By Amy Kazmin
Financial Times; Jul 22, 2003


Vietnam has eased restrictions on foreign ownership of listed companies as part as an effort to stimulate interest in the country's three-year-old equity market.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai approved an increase in the foreign ownership of listed companies to 30 per cent, addressing a Vietnamese legal anomaly that allowed foreign investors to hold up to 30 per cent of unlisted enterprises, but capped their holdings in listed firms at 20 per cent.

(07/22/2003 -- 12:05GMT+7)

Ha Noi, July 22 (VNA) - The Canada-based BM Films International Firm has bought the copyright to the film, Vua Bai Rac (King of Debris), planning to show it at cinemas, on TV and to publish on VCDs in the U.S. and Canada in the next ten years.

Under a contract with the Vietnamese Feature Film Company- the manufacturer, the BM Films International Firm will facilitate the film's participation in festivals, design posters and make English and French captions.