HCM City police arrest RoK fraud criminals

According to the RoK police’s record, Cha and his accomplice Nam Kuk Heon swindled 139 people in the RoK for 678,000 USD in 2006.

After these frauds, both fled to Vietnam and established a business to conceal their identity. 

In July 2009 due to visa expiry, they returned to the RoK and continued with their frauds before flying back to Vietnam in February 2010.

Earlier in April, 2010, Cha’s accomplice, Nam Kuk Heon, was also arrested in Ho Chi Minh City and handed over to the RoK police.

Taekwondo artist takes silver at Youth Olympics

Hanoi (VNA)- Vietnamese taekwondo martial artist Nguyen Thanh Thao on August 17 brought home a silver medal in the women’s 55kg at the Youth Olympic Games being held in Singapore. 

In the qualifying round, Thao knocked down 4-0 over Neves Bolivar from Sao Tome & Principe to reach to quarterfinals where she defeated her Tunisian rival Ben Ali Rahma by 3-1. 

In the semifinals, she won 9-8 over Abdul Rahman Shafinas from Singapore to enter the final, where she was beaten by the UK competitor Jade Jones at the extra time.

‘Green' journalism awards seek entries

Hanoi (VNA) — German engineering firm Siemens began accepting entries on August 17 in its Green Technology Journalism Awards. 

The awards are open to journalists in print and online media from Indonesia , Malaysia , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam , and mark the first such awards in Asia . 

"Concerns such climate change, sustainable living and conservation are at the forefront of our modern society," said Siemens Vietnam CEO Erdal Elver. 

"There is a vital need to create sustainable economics which engender prosperity and protect resources with leading-edge and environmentally-viable technologies." 

Supporting quality journalism in the field would help build awareness of green issues, he added. 

Entries would be evaluated by their news value and relevance to the three award catergories – energy efficiency, industrial productivity and sustainability – as well as the journalists' writing skills. 

Winners in each category will receive cash prizes and an opportunity to attend a seminar on sustainability and new technologies held by the Technical University of Berlin, as well as to visit Siemens R&D and production centres in Germany . 

All entries needed to have been published between January 1 and December 31, 2010, in mainstream media such as newspapers, magazines or websites. 

Entries will be judged in English, so journalists publishing in different languages would be required to include an English translation of the piece. 

A local judging panel will submit the best articles from each country to a regional jury, which will make the final awards decision. This panel will include academics and opinion leaders, media and business professionals, and public officials from the participating countries. 

Entries must be received by December 31, 2010, with registration and other information available online at www.siemens.vn/SGTJA 2010.

Stone Age artefacts unearthed in Son La province

Dien Bien (VNA) — More than 28,400 artefacts unearthed at six excavation sites in the Son La Hydro-electricity Plant reservoir construction site have been handed over to the Dien Bien Museum . 

The objects, unearthed by Vietnam Archaeology Institute graduates, have been identified as being from the Palaeolithic era (around 20,000 years ago) to Neolithic (3,000-4,000 years ago). They were found at Huoi So, Tua Thang communes and Muong Lay town of Dien Bien district. 

They include simple tools like stone pestles, mortars, and ceramic objects. 

Institute Professor Nguyen Khac Su said the objects were from tribes living in connected groups along the Da River, judging from the groups of objects. 

From an initial social network, the so-called Son Vi culture was formed in the north of Vietnam , he said. Son Vi culture (20,000-12,000BC) is the name given to the Upper Palaeolithic tradition of highland Vietnam . 

(The Upper or late Palaeolithic era is the latest of the three periods of the Palaeolithic era, about 40,000 to 14,000 years ago, when modern human beings first appeared). 

Su said further study of the relics would identify special cultural features of the region as well as the process of developing prehistoric cultures in the north of Vietnam in the context of other civilisations in Vietnam , south China and Southeast Asia . 

The project of excavating and moving objects from excavation sites in the Son La Hydroelectricity Plant's reservoir has been implemented in the north-western provinces of Dien Bien, Son La and Lai Chau. Dien Bien was the first to be completed.

Shares retreat after one-day rebound

Hanoi (VNA) — Shares retreated on August 17 on the nation's stock exchanges, reversing Mon-day's unexpected rebound. 

On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index lost 0.27 percent of its value to close at 463.52. Market volume fell 10 percent from the previous session to 36.5 million shares, worth only 1 trillion VND (55.2 million USD). 

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index slid by an even more dramatic 2.8 percent to end the session at 136.19 points. Trading volume declined by 15 percent to just over 29 million shares, worth just 730 billion VND (38 million USD) in total. 

Both benchmark indices opened in negative territory as sell orders increased amid weak demand. The VN-Index dropped below 460 in continuous order matching before rising back to 463, supported by the recovery of a number of blue chips at the latter half of the session. 

Those shares include Vietcombank (VCB), Sacombank (STB), software giant FPT (FPT), food giant Masan Group (MSN), PetroVietnam Drilling (PVD), PetroVietnam Finance (PVF), Vietnam-Italy Steel (VIS), insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and Pomina Steel (POM). 

STB, the most-active share with 1.5 million changing hands, closed up 0.63 percent to 16,000 VND (0.83 USD) per share. 

By contrast, the Hanoi market, dominated by penny stocks and mid-cap shares, lacked the sustaining influence of a modest revival in blue chips. Among larger cap shares on the northern market, many continued to shed value, including Petro-Vietnam Construction (PVX), Kim Long Securities Co (KLS), PetroVietnam Insurance (PVI) and Sai Gon-Hanoi Bank (SHB). 

PVX was, once again, the most-active share nationwide, with a volume of 4 million traded. PVX closed down 0.84 percent to 24,500 VND (1.28 USD) per share. 

August 17's market decline was expected by many analysts. 

Bao Viet Securities analyst Nguyen Duc Thi said he was wary of any market uptrend as demand was weak and pressure to sell high. 

"The market is likely to fluctuate in the coming sessions, easing off sell pressures before heading toward a more stable rise," Thi said. 

Vietnam Industrial Securities Co analyst Nguyen Thai Son said increased sell orders during on August 17's session on the HCM City market was only exploratory. 

"Many investors remain cautious over the possibility of a ‘bull-trap' and are hesitating to buy in," Son said. 

Foreign investors concluded on August 17 as net buyers on both exchanges, picking up a net of 2.5 million shares worth a combined 85 billion VND (4.4 million USD).

Vietnam remains 127th in FIFA world rankings

Hanoi (VNA) -- The Vietnam men's football team remain in 127th place in the latest FIFA world rankings for July with 174 points. 

In the Southeast Asian region, Vietnam stands third behind Thailand and Singapore who rank 102nd and 120th in the world rankings respectively. 

Spain still top the rankings with 1,883 points, followed by the Netherlands , Brazil , Germany and Argentina . 

The world rankings saw almost no changes post-World Cup. However, significant changes are expected as more than 50 international friendlies will be held this month. 

Meanwhile, for Vietnam women's football team, despite not having played since the AFC Football Championship in May, they stood at 1,612 points topping Thailand in FIFA's July world rankings for Southeast Asia . 

They jumped a place in the world rankings to 31st. 

After leaping three impressive steps in the previous quarter, Thailand had its score deducted by 6 points to fall to 32nd position. 

Myanmar sustained its third position in Southeast Asia and climbed up three steps to 47th place in the world.

Interactive exhibits reflect loss, change in old Hanoi

Hanoi (VNA) — A history of the Hanoi Old Quarter is reflected in documentary photos and installation art works on display at an exhibition at the Viet Art Centre, 42 Yet Kieu, Hanoi . 

In the exhibition, Reminders of Old Streets, young artists like Nguyen Huy An, Le Tran Hau Anh, Nguyen Quoc Thanh and Tran Hau Yen The tell stories of loss and change to the capital's cultural heritage. 

The exhibition is arranged to be interactive, through the display and performances of artisans from Hang Ma street , which were once popular in the old streets. 

Nguyen Thanh Loan was interested to find an embroidery frame by which patrons of the exhibition could contribute to the making of an embroidered picture of Hanoi . 

"I tried to embroider a small part of the picture. It's a really interesting idea, as if I am able to contribute to a portrayal of Hanoi 's image," she says. 

Thanh's artworks play with motifs of the Old Quarter: old houses with curved, tile roofs; young women in traditional robes. 

The motifs create a romantic, but commercialised image of the city. The artworks include portraits shot in the streets. 

The aim is not to capture the reality of Hanoi (it is not a documentary) or to reconstruct the old images of Hanoi . Instead, it plays with the romantic and sentimental imagination of the city. 

Old Hanoi and the present-day expanded capital have shown the importance of handicraft villages and guild streets. 

Global integration is challenging Vietnam on how to retain the unique characteristics of its culture. Also the process of westernisation or sinosisation has caused pressure on heritage values. 

The heritage of Hanoi 's old streets will be discussed at a seminar on 6pm August 18 at the exhibition space. 

It will be joined by art critic Nguyen Quan, painter Tran Hau Yen The and Dr Nguyen Van Huy, former director of Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. 

The exhibition will run until tomorrow as part of activities funded by the Vietnam-Denmark Cultural Exchange and Development Fund to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi . –Enditem

Regulations require toys to display safety stamps

Hanoi (VNA) -- Regulations requiring safety stamps for children's toys are about to be enforced, despite the fact about 85 percent of toys are smuggled from China and most sellers don't know where to get the stamps. 

Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Ministry's standards and quality department Ngo Quy Viet said the safety stamps were required to minimise the risks to children. 

The new regulations were applied five months ago with a September 15 deadline, he said. 

Viet said examination of all types of toys would be carried out between August 23 and September 20 with a focus on technical requirements of the regulations and limits for toxic organic chemical compounds. 

Compounds like formal dehyde in plastic toys could cause respiratory and skin disease. 

Violent toys would be banned, he said. 

Nevertheless, many toy retailers in Hanoi's Luong Van Can, Dong Xuan, Hang Ma streets, where most of toys are sold, said they had no idea where or how to get the stamps. 

"I usually purchase toys from a trader who says she knows nothing about quality stamps," said Hang Ma street toy seller Nguyen Thi Oanh. 

Most of her toys were imported from China , Oanh said. 

Customer Nguyen Hoang Ha said she never asked retailers about quality stamps. 

"I haven't seen any stamps and I bet none of the sellers know about them. 

"I have no choice but to choose toys for my kids with my experience and feeling," Ha said. 

Department co-deputy director Tran Van Vinh conceded that 85 percent of toys sold in the market were smuggled and it could take years to change the habits of sellers and consumers. 

However, Vinh said, the department had urged toy producers to have their products tested and attach stamps, and a programme to change consumers' buying habits would be carried out in due course.

Sa Pa tourism trademark to be promoted

Lao Cai (VNA) – Representatives from travel agencies, hotels and restaurants and experts from the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) gathered in Lao Cai province’s Sa Pa resort town on Aug. 18 discussing measures to promote Sa Pa tourism services and products.

The participants cited cultural identities, natural conditions and agricultural cultivation methods, as well as the State management as major factors in efforts to promote the trademark.

They agreed that it is necessary to define unique souvenir products of Sa Pa. 

Sa Pa is one of Vietnam 's top holiday and relaxation destinations a t the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18°C. It is cool in summer and cold in winter. 
Visitors to Sa Pa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day. 

The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sa Pa travel is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. 

In April and May, Sa Pa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air. 
Sa Pa has many natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain , Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge , Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave. 

Sa Pa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain , the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam , but also in the Indochina Peninsula . The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations. 
Sa Pa is home to various families of flowers of captivating colours, which can be found nowhere else in the country. 

Sa Pa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products. 

Visitors to Sa Pa will have opportunities to discover the unique customs of the local residents.

More oil and gas discovered in VN’s continental shelf