Peaceful, stable environment key to development


HA NOI — A guaranteed peaceful, stable environment that fosters socialist-oriented socio-economic development is the best way to benefit the nation, says Viet Nam Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

The General Secretary, who was summing up at the Central Committee’s 8th plenum that ended in Ha Noi last week, said safeguarding the nation could not be simply defined as protection.

Party Central Committee's eighth plenum closes



The Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee concluded its eighth plenum in Hanoi on July 12 with a resolution on the national defence strategy in the new stage of development.

The Party Central Committee also discussed a scheme on salary reform, social insurance and social welfare for people rendering great service to the revolution and the motherland, said a communique released at the end of the meeting.

Viet Nam's tourism recovers after SARS


(07/09/2003 -- 21:04GMT+7)

Ha Noi, July 9 (VNA) - The number of foreign arrivals in Viet Nam has increased thanks to the country's successful control of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

The achievement was also attributed to the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism's advertisement programme on Vietnamese land and people, and the introduction of new tourism products in key markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, France, Britain, Germany, Australia, Northern Europe and North America.

Vietnamese living conditions greatly improve-2002 survey


(07/09/2003 -- 18:55GMT+7)

Ha Noi, July 9 (VNA)- National and per-capita incomes, gaps between rural and urban areas, and purchasing powers in Viet Nam all saw major improvement in the first two years of the new millenium, according to the Statistics Office's 2002 survey.

The survey on Vietnamese households' living conditions showed that per-capita income rose by more than 21 percent in the last two years to 357,000 VND in 2002, representing an annual increase of more than 10 percent.

New opportunities for Cam Ranh

Vietnam Review, No 534 - June 2003

By Nguyen Thang-Trung Kien-Thanh Dat

The fact that the Government has allowed the use of part of the military airport and north of Cam Ranh archipelago for economic development since August 2002 has become the biggest opportunity for Cam Ranh since its foundation.

Vietnam's SARS outbreak containment praised

A US health official has appreciated Vietnam's experiences in containing the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, saying that its lessons are necessary for all countries around the world.

Ms Julie C Gerberding, director of the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) made the comment at the end of her recent visit to Vietnam.

Sa Pa gets ready to celebrate birthday



by Hong Thuy

Gone are the days when young Mong, Dao, Tay and Giay people from Sa Pa’s surrounds headed to town to play music and seek a spouse.

But this doesn’t stop the multitude of tourists who still flock to the town hoping to glimpse young, ethnic minority men and women flirting at the cho tinh (love market).

When they get there the last thing they find is the melodious sounds of the khen (bamboo pipe flute) or the courtships between men and women dressed in their traditional rainbow of colours.

Four children killed by war-era grenade


(07/07/2003 -- 22:21GMT+7)

Dac Lac, July 7 (VNA) - A US-made grenade which was left over from the US war in Viet Nam, killed four children in an accident on Saturday in Dac So hamlet, Dac Rung commune, Dac Song district, central Dac Lac province.

The accident, the worst of its kind there so far, killed three siblings and their cousin, aged between seven and 11.

Thich Quang Do exempted from being under house arrest

(06/27/2003 -- 22:07GMT+7)

HCM City, June 27 (VNA)-The Phu Nhuan District People's Court in HCM City on Friday afternoon announced its decision to exempt Dang Phuc Tue (alias Thich Quang Do) from being under house arrest ahead of schedule.

Open arms and flowers welcome peace boat



DA NANG — The Japanese Peace Boat, which docked in Da Nang last Saturday, became the first international tourist ship to visit Viet Nam since the World Health Organisation declared the country SARS-free on April 28.

Eight hundred tourists, mostly students, poured off the boat, surrounded by hundreds of locals decked out with flowers and flags to welcome the arrivals.

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