Eximbank made the announcement in Ho Chi Minh City on March 8, saying it was the first bank in Vietnam to join such a network.

GlobePass membership will allow Eximbank to offer customers high-grade financial services and more utilities and help the government achieve the goal of phasing out payments in cash. The bank is now able to provide discount programmes for Vietnamese institutions that accept credit cards.

GlobalPass credit-card holders will enjoy privileges such as discounts, coupons, and gifts at the alliance network’s 277 merchants in 11 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan , the Republic of Korea , Malaysia , China , Hong Kong , Taiwan , Singapore , the Philippines , Thailand , Indonesia and Vietnam .

GlobePass, which now has over 100 million cardholders with cards issued from 12 member banks in the above-said countries and territories, aims to boost cooperation among global financial institutions.

Eximbank has 34 merchants that have offered 42 coupons.-Enditem

First int’l sugar, paper expo opens in Hanoi

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam ’s first international sugar and paper exhibition opened in Hanoi on March 8.

The Vietnam Sugar and Paper Expo 2010 expects to offer chances for Vietnamese and foreign enterprises, especially those from India , to enhance cooperation in investment, production and the provision of material for sugar and paper industries.

Apart from displaying equipment and technology at the three-day expo, jointly held by India’s Nexgen Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre and EIFEC Co. Ltd., participants will also have chance to do research on the possibility of building sugar and paper factories in Vietnam.

According to forecast, by 2020, Vietnam will produce enough sugar not only for domestic consumption but also for export.

Two Indian enterprises have so far invested in building sugar refineries in Vietnam .

Vietnam now has 30 paper mills with their products meeting 37 percent of domestic demand. The country has approved a development plan for increasing output for the paper sector through 2020.-Enditem

Stimulus plan proposed to boost tourism

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has proposed offering visas-on-arrival as a measure to lure more than 4 million foreign visitors to Vietnam this year.

The VNAT has suggested the new service be offered firstly at the Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai international border-gates where a large number of foreign visitors enter to begin their trips in Vietnam .

The agency has also discussed a tax refund plan for foreign visitors shopping in the country in a bid to boost the national tourist industry, which saw a 27.4 percent rise in foreign arrivals in the first two months of this year.

This year, the VNAT plans to join hands with the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, to open five more overseas representative offices in order to promote the country’s image as well as new tourist products to foreigners.

In preparation for the joint scheme, Vietnam Airlines has launched more flights on its routes to Vietnam ’s traditional tourist markets, including Japan and China .

Promotional efforts in foreign markets have so far paid off, with some major Vietnamese travel companies like Saigontourist, Vietravel, Hanoitourist, and Ben Thanh reporting that they have lured a large number of foreign visitors.

According to the VNAT, 876,000 foreigners visited Vietnam in the first two months of this year, a 27.4 percent surge over the same period last year.

There was a surprising upsurge of 108 percent in the number of Cambodian arrivals. This was followed by tourists from China , up by 90 percent, the Republic of Korea , 44 percent, and Thailand , 37 percent.

Major events to be held in the country this year, including the Thang Long-Hanoi 1,000th founding anniversary, the Hue festival, the Miss World pageant in Nha Trang, and an international film festival, are expected to lure even more foreign visitors to Vietnam.-Enditem

Phu Quoc set to become tourism and commercial hub

Hanoi (VNA) – Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang will be turned into a tourism and commercial hub for the country and the region, according to a decision recently signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

According to the decision, Vietnamese individuals and organisations, Overseas Vietnamese and foreign investors are encouraged to invest in the island. Fields of investment range from infrastructure, industry, urban development, and seaports, to trade, tourism, finance, and banking.

In particular, foreign investors will be allowed to provide international telecom services for the island.

The decision is expected to boost the development of Phu Quoc in the near future.

With over 56,000 sq. km in area, Phu Quoc is known as a place rich in potential in seafood production and tourism. -Enditem

Bunka-Vietnam opens new shutter, door factory

Hung Yen (VNA) – Bunka-Vietnam Co Ltd inaugurated a new shutter and door factory, with a total investment of 6 billion JPY (64 million USD) at Thang Long II Industrial Park the northern province of Hung Yen last week.

The factory will provide products to the Vietnamese market with an expected capacity of 100 shutters and 500 doors per month.

The factory is expected to come online on April 1.-Enditem

Nestle Vietnam reduces milk product prices

HCM City (VNA) – Nestle Vietnam has bucked the trend of rising prices for powdered milk by lowering the prices of a number of its products.

A 900mg can of Lactogen, for instance, was reduced from 131,000 VND to 125,000 VND.

The move was part of Nestle’s effort to fulfil a vow it made last year of making a long-term reduction in milk prices, beginning with cuts back in May and July of last year, the company said.-Enditem

Underwater tunnel takes shape

HCM City (VNA) – The first of the four reinforced-concrete segments was anchored at the construction site of the Thu Thiem Tunnel on the Sai Gon River on Mar. 7.
The 27,000-tonne structure will be settled in the river bed on march 9, while the other three segments will be towed to the site later from Nhon Trach District in the southern province of Dong Nai .
The 370.8-metre long underwater tunnel will connect the city’s District 1 with the new urban Thu Thiem Area in District 2. The tunnel is designed to ease the east-west traffic flow in the city.
Experts said the sealed segment will be lowered into a prepared trench on the riverbed and then covered with backfilling material in order to secure its position and protect the tunnel.
The installation of each unit takes about one month to complete.
After the four units are secured and connected with the tunnel entrances at both ends, the driveway and the emergency pathways will be paved and assorted installation projects will continue until the tunnel is completed and opened in mid-2011.
The tunnel is part of the Sai Gon East-West Highway Project that is being implemented by HCM City with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The agency has provided 41.027 billion yen (456 million USD) in ODA for the project.
Addressing a press meeting on March 7, Tsuno Motonori, chief representative of JICA Vietnam Office, said this was the first infrastructure project supported by JICA in HCM City .
This new six-lane, 22-km road will connect National Highway 1A with the Hanoi Highway in the east. The road will also pass under the Sai Gon River through the Thu Thiem tunnel.
The western part of the highway opened to traffic to September 2 last year.
Four bridges over the canal Khanh Hoi, Calmette, Chu Y and Cha Va , also opened last year.

The road section on the Thu Thiem side will be gradually opened starting in April this year.
Motonori said the installation of the immersed tunnel units is the most difficult part of the EWH project. He added that these are the first immersed tunnels in Vietnam and also the first project of this type in Southeast Asia.-Enditem.

Hanoi hosts bird flu plenary meeting

Hanoi (VNA) – A plenary meeting of the Partnership for Avian and Human Influenza (PAHI) was held in Hanoi on March 8, co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Bui Ba Bong and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam John Hendra.

The meeting is an important landmark for the Ministries of Public Health and Agriculture and Rural Development and PAHI members to assess the nation’s integrated operational programme on avian and human influenza in the 2006-2010 period, the pandemic situation and the activities of partners.

The participants highlighted Vietnam ’s effort to cope with avian influenza and a potential outbreak of human influenza over the past years.

Vietnam has to take control of the avian influenza virus to save on vaccination costs, experts recommended, emphasising the need to restructure the production, transport, and consumption of poultry throughout the country.

The country should review its national pandemic preparedness planning for large, complicated and unforeseeable disasters, they said.

The participants were also updated on preparations for the international ministerial conference on “Animal and Pandemic Influenza: The Way Forward” (IMCAPI Hanoi 2010) scheduled to be held in April.-Enditem

PM receives new Israeli ambassador

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received new Israeli ambassador to Vietnam Amonon Efrat in Hanoi on March 8, making a pledge to create favourable conditions for the diplomat to fulfil his responsibilities.

The PM also requested the ambassador to work with Vietnamese ministries and branches to boost bilateral cooperation on economy, trade, investment, development assistance and the training of agricultural scientists.

Ambassador Amonon Efrat affirmed that during his tenure in Vietnam , he will focus on boosting cooperative ties between the two countries with priority to be given to the acceleration of the signing of agreements on investment protection and promotion, double tax avoidance and maritime affairs.

To prepare for the Israeli President’s visit to Vietnam in June, PM Dung asked the ambassador to cooperate with the Foreign Ministry in order to make the visit successful, thus lifting the two countries’ relations to a new height.-Enditem

Govt leader seeks more German aid on environment

Hanoi (VNA)- Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called on Germany to give Vietnam stronger official development assistance (ODA), especially on the environment, and coping with climate change and rising sea water levels.

The Government leader made the call after expressing thanks to Germany for its effective ODA in the recent past during his meeting with German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel in Hanoi on March 8.

Dung sounded satisfactory about the progress made in bilateral relations in general such as economy, trade, investment, education and training, which he said should reach new heights in 2010 when the two countries will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

He also assured the German minister of the best available conditions for German investors operating in Vietnam .

His view was shared by Dirk Niebel who announced that the German Government has decided to provide Vietnam with an additional 19 million EUR in aid for vocational training and coping with climate change.

“ Vietnam is a very important partner of Germany , especially in economy, trade, investment and education-training,” said the German minister.--Enditem

Hanoi Craft Week 2010 draws 500 villages

Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi Craft Week 2010 will take place from Aug. 4-9 at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Hanoi with the participation of 500 craft villages.

Themed “A thousand years of quintessence” the fair is part of activities to celebrate the Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary and the national year of tourism in Hanoi, Luu Tien Long, Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Commerce, said at a press briefing in Hanoi on March 8.

In addition to promoting exports, developing and improving the products of Hanoi craft villages, the week will promote the traditional cultures of the villages over the past 1,000 historic years.

It will also include other activities like a contest for artisans on a signature souvenir design for the millennium anniversary.

Visitors will have a chance to witness the process by which crafts are made, and even take part in the production themselves.

The organising board will also arrange a tour of five outstanding craft villages in combination with other tourist sites around Hanoi .

The week will cover workshops on the potential and development of Hanoi handicraft villages and shows for craft items.

The design contest and craft village tour were launched in February.-Enditem

Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi Craft Week 2010 will take place from Aug. 4-9 at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Hanoi with the participation of 500 craft villages.

Themed “A thousand years of quintessence” the fair is part of activities to celebrate the Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary and the national year of tourism in Hanoi, Luu Tien Long, Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Commerce, said at a press briefing in Hanoi on March 8.

In addition to promoting exports, developing and improving the products of Hanoi craft villages, the week will promote the traditional cultures of the villages over the past 1,000 historic years.

It will also include other activities like a contest for artisans on a signature souvenir design for the millennium anniversary.

Visitors will have a chance to witness the process by which crafts are made, and even take part in the production themselves.

The organising board will also arrange a tour of five outstanding craft villages in combination with other tourist sites around Hanoi .

The week will cover workshops on the potential and development of Hanoi handicraft villages and shows for craft items.

The design contest and craft village tour were launched in February.-Enditem

Vietnam continues to invest in Laos

Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnam will continue to pour investment into Laos , President of the Business and Investment Cooperation Association Hoang Cung Thien Nhan has said.

Speaking at the sixth Lao Business Forum (LBF), which was held recently in Vientiane , Nhan also called on the Lao government to create favourable conditions for the development of cross-border trade and the building of border economic zones.

He also suggested the Lao government prioritise the construction of roads linking the two countries as well as consider the upgrade of border gates. The government should also offer more land for the development of rubber tree plantations, he said.

The 6th LBF attracted nearly 200 delegates from the Lao government, State-owned and private enterprises and international donors.

The forum discussed the reform of administration, law and regulations as well as measures to remove the obstacles to Laos ’s economic growth.

Regional director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Laos , Cambodia , Thailand and Vietnam Simon Andrew said despite difficulties caused by the global economic crisis, Laos ’s private sector is still an important driving force for the economy. He pledged that IFC will continue to provide financial support to Laos.-Enditem

Vietnam urges US to do more for overcoming war aftermath

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Prime Minister has urged the US to take more concrete action to help Vietnam recover from the aftermath of the Vietnam war in line with the country’s effective cooperation in searching for remains of fallen US soldiers.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung made the request while talking in Hanoi on March 8 to Lester Crown, Chairman of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, who is on a working visit to Vietnam .

He recounted that US troops caused the death of about 2 million Vietnamese, left hundreds of thousands missing and exposed about 2 million others to the toxic chemical Agent Orange during the war in Vietnam .

The lingering effects of the war remain severe with victims of unexploded bombs and mines reported daily, the PM reaffirmed, saying he hopes to receive effective US cooperation and assistance in searching for those who remain missing, clearing unexploded bombs and mines, addressing the effects of AO exposure, and education and human resource training.

PM Dung said he hoped the US Government will work with Vietnam to step up bilateral cooperation and friendship in all areas in the spirit of respect, equality and mutual benefit.

He asked the US to soon enforce the FTA and lift all trade barriers to Vietnamese goods to create favourable and fair conditions for the two countries’ trade.

PM Dung looked forward to receiving US help in tackling climate change and rising sea levels, as Vietnam is one of the countries in the world most strongly impacted by these issues.

Briefing his guest on the nation’s socio-economic development, PM Dung affirmed that Vietnam achieved considerable economic successes and maintained social stability owing to the implementation of its “doi moi” renewal process over the past 20 years as well as the people’s trust, and their consensus and support for the Party and State policies and guidelines.

Regarding the Vietnam-US relationship, PM Dung referred to the fact that the two-way trade has risen tenfold to 15 billion USD since 2001 and that the US has become one of the top FDI investors in Vietnam .

Even as bilateral ties in education, training, defence, security, foreign affairs, and in combating climate change have been developing positively, Vietnam still wants them to grow further in the future for the benefit of both sides, for the sake of the two peoples, and for stability in the region and the world, PM Dung said.

He reiterated the country’s consistent policy of encouraging foreign investors, including those from the US , to come and conduct long-term business in Vietnam .

Lester said he was impressed with the changes in Vietnam over the past years, attributing the country’s socio-economic development achievements to its emerging position as a reliable investment destination for US businesspeople.

He said he noted down PM Dung’s opinions and will pass them on to the US Government. He pledged to work together with the Chicago Council’s members to boost friendship and cooperation between the two countries.-Enditem

Portal for Vietnamese alumni in Germany launched

Hanoi (VNA) – A portal for Vietnamese students who used to study in Germany was launched in Hanoi on March 8 by German Minister of Cooperation and Economic Development Dirk Niebel.

The portal is useful for all participants, Minister Dirk Niebel said at the launching ceremony. For those who formerly studied in Germany , it provides the opportunity to set up their own information network. For Germany , it means being able to maintain relationships with important partners for the country’s economy, education policies and culture as well as its cooperation with Vietnam .

The portal at www.alumniportal-deutschland.org was launched at a conference on development assistance for networks via portal for former students in Germany from other countries, which was held in Hanoi on March 8-9, as part of activities to celebrate the “Germany Year in Vietnam ” and “Vietnam Year in Germany ” in 2010.

During the two-day conference, Vietnamese and German participants will focus their discussions on opportunities for former Vietnamese students, prospects for cooperation between the two countries, and bilateral cooperation on the environment and tertiary education.

About 80,000 Vietnamese people currently live in Germany and about 100,000 others now in Vietnam used to live in Germany.-Endtiem

Media to focus more on sea and border demarcation

Da Nang (VNA) – The development of foreign affairs news and the dissemination of information in Vietnam this year will focus on the nation’s strategy for the demarcation of its borders at sea.

This is among the conclusions of a national conference to review the national foreign news service that opened in Da Nang city on March 8.

Participants at the conference also agreed that continued efforts should be made to publicise the great significance of the completion of Vietnam-China border marker planting--not just in terms of two-way relations, but also its benefit to the world community.

They also urged stepped up efforts to increase awareness of the legal policies put in place by the Party and State concerning national sovereignty and border issues between Vietnam and its neighbours Laos and Cambodia, with the aim of constructing a peaceful borderline to promote friendship, cooperation and development in border provinces. To this end, the foreign news service, they said, must join the fight against the distorted and subversive allegations of hostile forces at home and abroad.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said that dissemination work has been implemented intensely, synchronously and comprehensively and with a clear focus. Also, the content and methods used have both been enhanced.

Together with increasing the dissemination of information on the country, people and development of Vietnam , the foreign affairs news sector has actively produced articles to fight the distorted allegations of hostile forces and political inciters relating to issues such as democracy, human rights, religion, freedom of the press, national sovereignty and Vietnam ’s relations with other countries.

Keynote reports presented at the conference acknowledged efforts of the foreign news service to overcome all difficulties and challenges arising from the global economic crisis as well as the distorted arguments of hostile forces.

The service has also spotlighted the Party and State’s sound policies and measures, especially the consistent and open foreign policy of Vietnam , which has helped overseas Vietnamese communities and foreign friends gain a clear understanding of the domestic situation.

The dissemination of foreign affairs events has been conducted on time, introducing to the overseas Vietnamese and foreign audience international events of great significance relating to the Party and the State. The nation’s successful fulfilment of its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, its report on human rights which was approved by the United Nations, have also been made known. This has contributed to lifting Vietnam ’s status in the international arena.

On March 9, reports from ministries, departments, relevant agencies and local authorities will be presented and participants will exchange experiences regarding the dissemination of information on issues such as seas, islands and border marker planting.- Enditem

ASEAN products to enjoy zero tax in Australia, New Zealand

Bangkok (VNA) – Over 12,300 products from ASEAN countries will enjoy a zero tax rate while being exported to Australia and New Zealand after a new agreement between ASEAN and the two countries takes effect later this week.

According to the Thai daily “The Nation”, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Agreement will include steps to implement the roadmap of trade liberalisation through cutting tariffs and standardise regulations on technical criteria, food safety and hygiene and investment cooperation.

Australia will remove taxes on 5,800 products imported from ASEAN member countries while New Zealand will do so on 6,500 commodities from the grouping.

This is ASEAN’s fifth FTA with partner countries, following its agreements with China , Japan , the Republic of Korea and India . In addition, ASEAN is looking to signing FTAs with countries under the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Mercosur Trade Bloc, including four leading Latin American economies namely Argentina , Brazil , Paraguay and Uruguay.-Enditem

Germany provides additional 7 mln EUR to Viet Nam

Hanoi (VNA) – The German Government will provide an additional 7 million EUR to help Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

Visiting German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel announced the assistance in Hanoi on Mar. 8.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Germany has shifted the focus of its aid to large-scale infrastructure projects. Noteworthy was the construction of the metro line No. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City .

Additionally, projects on mitigation of climate change in the Mekong Delta, bio-diversity preservation, urban development and waste water and waste treatment also received priorities from the German Government.

Minister Dirk Niebel is leading a delegation in a visit to Vietnam , the first high-level one of the German Government to Vietnam in 2010, the year that the two countries celebrate the 35 th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The two countries also chose 2010 as the “German Year in Vietnam ” and the “Vietnamese Year in Germany ”.-Enditem

International conference on nuclear energy opens in Paris

Hanoi (VNA) – The use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as a way to combat climate change has emerged as a main topic at an international conference that opened in Paris on March 8.

The conference, held by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), draw the participation of ministers, scientists and producers from 70 countries, including those possessing nuclear technologies and those expecting to access nuclear energy.

Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have not been invited to the two-day conference.

At the conference, participants are expected to focus their discussions on how to “use the nuclear energy responsibly” amid the rising energy demand, ways to ensure nuclear material supply and long-term financial sources for nuclear projects.

In addition, the participants discuss legal frameworks to ensure that the nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes as well as safety issues and the recycling of radioactive waste.

French delegates stressed that access to nuclear energy should not be the exclusive rights of several countries possessing nuclear technologies and nuclear powers should ensure safety at nuclear sites and meet requirements on nuclear non-proliferation. -Enditem

Australia, Germany declare ties in assistance to Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – Germany and Australia inked a joint declaration on providing assistance to Vietnam ’s environment and energy in Hanoi on March 8.

The declaration, inked by Germany ’s Minister of Development and Cooperation (BMZ) Dirk Niebel and Deputy Director of the Australian International Development Agency (AusAID) Richars Moore, laid out specific targets of forming and implementing a joint financial programme that is in line with Vietnam ’s national socio-economic development programme.

According to the document, support from the BMZ and AusAID will focus on helping Vietnam address environmental issues and climate change, such as improving coastal area management capacity, conservation of biological diversity, promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Germany and Australia have earlier jointly conducted a project on protecting mangrove forest in the Mekong delta province of Kien Giang .

Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc said the coordination of the two foreign donors is expected to enhance the effectiveness of foreign-funded projects for the socio-economic development in Vietnam .

In the coming time, the model of coordinated projects between Germany and Australia will continue to be multiplied in other Mekong delta provinces and in other fields.- Enditem

Earthquake jolts Turkey, killing at least 41

Hanoi (VNA) – At least 41 people died and more than 20 were injured in a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Elazig province in eastern Turkey on March 8, reported the Xinhua news agency.

According to a report from the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute of Bogazici University of Turkey, the powerful quake struck the Basyurt region of Elazig’s Karakocan town at 4:32 a.m local time (0232 GMT) at a depth of 5 km.

The whole area then continued to be affected by the quake’s aftershocks.

Rescue teams have been rushing the earthquake-rocked areas.

With much of its territories lying atop the North Anatolian fault, Turkey is a quake-prone country. In 1999, more than 18,000 people were killed in two devastating earthquakes in the country.-Enditem

Tenants protected by new regulation

HCM City (VNA) – Tenants in Ho Chi Minh City can register for electricity supply independent of their landlords under a new regulation passed by the city to safeguard lessees from being gouged by house owners.

Though the rule took effect on March 1, not many have registered, with some owners – who should register on behalf of their tenants – pleading ignorance.

Dinh Van Kien, who owns a row of houses in District 12, said even electricity company staff who come to collect money charges have not informed him about the new regulation.

Some landlords have registered their tenants but not informed them in order to continue collecting higher tariffs, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported. Many collect up to six times the actual electricity prices.

Le Van Phuoc, director of HCM City Electricity Co, said punishing landlord who gouge their tenants is the responsibility to State agencies, not his company.

Last year inspector had discovered many tenants being forced to pay many times higher electricity prices than levied by the supply company. They then recommended to the Department of Industry and Trade to deal more sternly with violators, he said.

But Tran Van Hoa, deputy head of the department’s Energy Management Office, admitted that violators have merely been reprimanded so far. He promised they would be penalised from this year.

The maximum penalty is 20 million VND (1,086 USD), the department said.

Meanwhile, following a hike in water and power tariffs on March 1, many owners of boarding houses have hiked rates, especially affecting students and workers.

Nguyen Thi Thu, who rents a house in Khanh Hoi Street, district 4, said her landlord collects 12,000 VND for a cubic metre of water and 3,000 VND for a kWh of electricity.

Even following the price hikes, the highest rate, for consumption of 401 kWh and more, is 1,890 VND.

Water costs 4,000 VND/cu.m for the first 4 cu.m, with the highest rate being 10,000 VND.

Duy, a worker who rents a house in Thu Duc district, said there are rules stipulating that house owners should only collect the actual electricity charges payable to power supply companies. Though violations are punishable, authorities have yet to do so, he said.-Enditem

Private universities hike tuition fees

HCM City (VNA) – Many private universities have announced an increase in tuition fees for 2010-11, citing rising costs of infrastructure and equipment.

Hanoi’s Dai Nam University will hike the fees from 800,000 VND (43.4 USD) to 980,000 VND (53.2 USD) a month for degree level and from 700,000 (38 USD) to 800,000 VND (43.4 VND) for college students.

A university spokesperson said electricity, water, and land costs rose last year.

FPT University, also based in Hanoi, one of the most expensive private universities with fees running into thousands of USD, said it would add a semester to its courses instead of increasing fees. A student will thus be paying total fees of 9,900 USD (193 million VND) over a course against 8,800 USD (171.6 million VND) this year.

Thang Long University said it would hike fees by 10 percent on average, with finance and banking students paying the lowest amount of 1.1 million VND (59.7 USD) and nursing students the highest of 12 million VND (652 USD).

Thanh Thuy, a spokesperson for Bac Ha International University, said the school would hike the annual fees for the economics stream to 18 million VND (980 USD) and for the technology stream to 20 million VND (1,086 USD).

The fee hike is essential to meet quality standards, she said.

However, some private universities charge moderate fees even after hikes. Tran Huu Nghi, principal of Hai Phong University, said this year his school would collect 7.9 million VND (429 USD).

It did not want to cause financial difficulties for students, he explained, adding they can borrow 8.4 million VND (456 USD) a year from the government’s credit support programme.

Thanh Tay University too collects a modest 7 million VND (380 USD) at the tertiary level and 5 million VND (271 USD) at the college level and does not plan to increase the fees.-Enditem

Fully restored pagoda opens in Soc Trang

Soc Trang (VNA) – Thousands of pilgrims from Mekong Delta provinces, mostly ethnic Khmer, flocked to the Chua Doi (Bat Pagoda) in Soc Trang province during weekend to celebrate the restoration of the famous monument.

Many were eager to see the new sanctuary dedicated to the Buddha at a three-day inauguration ceremony held by the province’s Buddhist Clergy Society that ended on March 7.

The 400-year-old pagoda, which is built in typical Khmer religious architectural style and is famous for the myriad of bats taking shelter in trees in its backyard, was accidentally burned down three years ago.

The incident shocked the Khmer community, but bats did not abandon the pagoda as initially feared.

The restoration, which cost 2.6 billion VND (140,000USD), was kicked off two years ago by the Institute of Relics Conversation which promised to restore the temple to its original shape.

“We’re happy to see the sanctuary back to what it was before,” Lam Ren of Vinh Chau District said. “My family paid its respects to the Buddha and prayed for a good harvest this year.”

Venerable Lam Tu Linh, vice rector of the pagoda, said without expertise and state finding, the restoration would not have been possible given the local community cannot afford such a large expenditure. – Editem.

lly restored pagoda opens in Soc Trang

Soc Trang (VNA) – Thousands of pilgrims from Mekong Delta provinces, mostly ethnic Khmer, flocked to the Chua Doi (Bat Pagoda) in Soc Trang province during weekend to celebrate the restoration of the famous monument.

Many were eager to see the new sanctuary dedicated to the Buddha at a three-day inauguration ceremony held by the province’s Buddhist Clergy Society that ended on March 7.

The 400-year-old pagoda, which is built in typical Khmer religious architectural style and is famous for the myriad of bats taking shelter in trees in its backyard, was accidentally burned down three years ago.

The incident shocked the Khmer community, but bats did not abandon the pagoda as initially feared.

The restoration, which cost 2.6 billion VND (140,000USD), was kicked off two years ago by the Institute of Relics Conversation which promised to restore the temple to its original shape.

“We’re happy to see the sanctuary back to what it was before,” Lam Ren of Vinh Chau District said. “My family paid its respects to the Buddha and prayed for a good harvest this year.”
Venerable Lam Tu Linh, vice rector of the pagoda, said without expertise and state finding, the restoration would not have been possible given the local community cannot afford such a large expenditure. – Editem.

Orchestra concert to introduce top Korean violinist

HCM City (VNA) – Korean conductor Lim Jun-o and violinist Paik Jae-jin will perform with the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera in a concert at HCM City’s Opera House on March 9.

The concert will feature music by Italian, German and Russian composers.

The orchestra will open the show by playing the overture to “the Barber of Seville”, a popular 18 th century opera by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini.

Highlights include a performance by violinist Paik Jae-jin, who is a music professor at the Dong-Eui University in Busan, the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Paik will play a violin concerto by German composer and conductor Max Bruch.

The concert will continue with Russian music, including Shostakovich’s well-known Symphony No 5.

Paik, one of the talented violinists from the RoK, graduated from Seoul National University. In 1989, he continued his studies at the Wien Musik Hochschule in Australia.

He has taken part in many concerts at home and abroad, and worked with numerous orchestras, including the Seoul Chamber Orchestra, Seoul Young Orchestra, and Vienna Academy Chamber Orchestra before moving to reside in Busan. He now works as a music teacher for the Dong-Eui University.

After studying music at Dong-Eui University, Lim continued conducting at the Magnitogorsk music Conservatory in Russia.

He has performed in many concerts and festivals in the RoK, Russia and Vietnam, and now leads the New Prime Symphony Orchestra.

Last year, he visited HCM City to conduct a classical music concert staged by the HBSO.
The concert will begin at 8pm on March 9 at the Opera House at 7 Lam Son Square, District 1. Tickets, on sale at the theatre’s box office, cost between 150,000VND and 200,000 VND (8-12USD) – Editem

Art exhibitions to open in HCM City

HCM City (VNA) – HCM City art lovers are in for a treat with two new exhibitions, one of which displays works by 44 women painters to greet International Women’s Day on March 8.

The female artists are presenting 68 paintings presented in silk and oil as well as statues and earthenware at the exhibition, which has opened at the city’s Fine Arts Association.

The works share common themes and subject matters, including an obvious interest in flowers, still life, peaceful landscapes, the turbulence and the beauty of life and, most notably, a strong female world view.

“The paintings are strongly personal and feminine. Each artist has her unique form of expression and uses different materials in which she specialises,” painter Pham Do Dong, vice president of HCM City ’s Fine Arts Association, said.

In additiion to works displayed at the exhibition, many painters are creating new paintings and statues to prepare for next month’s exhibition to greet Liberation Day on April 30,” painter Nguyen Thi Tam, manager of the city’s Women Artists’ Club, said.

The exhibition, which is at the Fine Arts Association, 218A Pasteur Street , District 3, will last until next Monday.

To Hoai Nam and Vo Nam , two teachers of HCM City ’s Fine Arts College, are displaying their works in a joint exhibition, which opened last weekend at the college.

Hoai Nam ’s works feature romantic landscapes of Gyeongnam in the Republic of Korea where he took part in an art creation camp for Asian painters last year.

The exhibition at the Fine Arts College, 5 Phan Dang Luu Street in Binh
Thanh District will last until next Monday.
According to sources from the Fine Arts Association, several exhibitions will be held in the city this month, including a solo exhibition of painter Nguyen Hung Trinh from the central province of Khanh Hoa from March 23 to April.-Enditem

Vietnam attends trade union meeting in Singapore

Singapore (VNA) – Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Nguyen Hoa Binh led a delegation to attend a consultation meeting in Singapore on March 4.

The meeting between the International Trade Union Regional Organisation for Asia-Pacific (ITUC-AP) and the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) Central Committee was also attended by ITUC-AP General Secretary Noriyuki Suzuki and the Vice President of the LFTU Central Committee.

The participants exchanged information on their organisations’ trade union activities and discussed measures to further strengthen cooperation between the three organisations in the time to come.

Established in September 2007, ITUC-AP is a regional trade union organisation with more than 19 million trade unionists. Despite not being ITUC-AP members, the VGCL and LFTU still maintain a partnership and cooperation with the organisation in various trade union fields.

On the occasion, VGCL Vice President Binh had working sessions with the President of the Singapore National Trade Union Congress and the General Secretary of the Union Network International – Asia-Pacific Regional Organisation (UNI-APRO).-Enditem

ASEAN countries boost parliamentary cooperation

Da Nang (VNA) – A meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) opened in the central city of Da Nang on March 7.

The meeting, themed “Post-Crisis and Sustainable Development”, drew the participation of eight member countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well as several international organisations such as the Asia Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

National Assembly Vice Chair Tong Thi Phong led a Vietnamese delegation to the event, which was one of the activities in the year when the Vietnamese legislative body assumes the AIPA Presidency.

The four-day meeting focuses on reviewing the consequences of the global economic crisis and discussing the role of legislative bodies in coping with the economic crisis and measures to boost sustainable development in the post-crisis period.

It also aims to boost cooperation among ASEAN member countries’ parliaments, contributing to their efforts to keep peace and political stability and expand economic cooperation.-Enditem

Italian universities wish to cooperate with Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – A number of universities in the Puglia region of southern Italy wish to cooperate with Vietnam in areas of their strengths.

At a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Khanh Thoai in Puglia’s capital city of Bari, professors from the largest schools in the region, such as the universities of Bari, Lecce and Salento expressed their hopes to cooperate with Vietnamese universities in irrigation, maritime mechanical engineering, biotechnology and the restoration of relics and architectural works.

Puglia’s schools also want to explore cooperative opportunities in training in Vietnam through exchanges and scholarship programmes.-Enditem

Donors pledge 790 mln USD to climate change mitigation

Hanoi (VNA) – International organisations and several countries have pledged 790 million USD to Vietnam to cope with climate change.

The commitment was made at a recent conference on science-technology for climate change adaptation and mitigation, said Tran Minh Ha from the Office of the National Target Programme to Respond to Climate Change.

Of the total funding, 250 million USD will come from the Clean Technology Fund of the World Bank and the remaining will be provided by the governments of Denmark, France and Japan.-Enditem

 

(mofa)