The plan, also including orientations to 2030, gives priority to public transport, with trains and trams in the spotlight in an effort to reduce traffic jams in big cities, especially the largest economic hub of HCM City.

It also calls for quality transport services with reasonable prices, diversification of means of transport and development of logistics.

The strategy aims to transport 1.3-1.4 billion passengers a year, thus recording an annual growth rate of between eight and nine percent, of which air passengers are estimated at 25 million. In regard to cargo, the regional system is expected to transport between 500 and 550 million tonnes a year and record an annual growth rate of 7-8 percent, of which sea ports are to play a key role for handling 265-305 million tonnes.

To meet the goal, the strategy emphasises upgrading the trans-Vietnam railway with the HCM City station as a hub and the connection of the railway system with seaports and major economic zones. It also calls for investment in new railways to complete connectivity within the region and the Mekong Delta as a whole, while conducting research on investment in the North-South Rail Express as a future project.

Deep-water ports in oil-rich Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, booming industrial Dong Nai province and HCM City are also the target of investment. Airport upgrades are needed to meet increasing demand at different stages. The construction of Long Thanh international airport is set to finish and be put into operation during this period.

The development plan focuses on several main corridors running from Ho Chi Minh City at the centre to northern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta’s Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, the Central Highlands and Cambodia.

The strategy puts domestic investment as vital, with sources coming in different forms such as State budgets, including official development assistance, bond issuance and public-private cooperation. It also calls for foreign investment./.

 


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Hanel to build 35 mln USD software park

 

Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi Electronics Corporation (Hanel) will start construction of a 35 million USD software park in Hanoi’s outlying district of Long Bien in the first quarter of the year.

Covering a land area of 312,000 sq. m, the park will include a software outsourcing centre, an e-trade centre and a programmer training centre, a Hanel representative said on Jan. 26.

A residential area for experts, a green park, a five-star hotel, and a high-class trade centre will be also built to add more convenience for the park’s customers.

Hanel expects to put the park into operation in the first quarter of 2014./.

 


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Vietnam rejects Human Rights Watch’s allegation

 

Hanoi (VNA) –The Human Rights Watch’s remarks on the situation in Vietnam in 2010 are totally wrong, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry has said.

Spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga made the statement in reply to a reporter’s query relating to the Human Rights Watch’s allegations that Vietnam increased oppression over dissidents and the people’s rights to freedom of speech in its annual report released on Jan. 24.

She stated that in Vietnam , the citizens’ rights to freedom and democracy, including the right to freedom of information, the right to freedom of expression and speech, and the right to freedom of religion and belief and non-religion and non-belief, have been stated clearly in the Constitution and laws, and the exercise of these rights is ensured in reality.

Like any other country around the world, to ensure rules and laws of a law-governed state, any legal violation in Vietnam are handled in line with the law, Nga underlined./.

 


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Ho Chi Minh City to open tourism park

 

HCM City (VNA) — A tourism park with a strong cultural theme is being built in time for Tet (lunar New Year) in HCM City 's suburban Cu Chi district.

Vietnam At A Glance, located off Bo Cap (Scorpion) pier in An Phu Commune, resembles a giant garden with traditional varieties of flowers, bonsai, and fruit and bamboo trees of various kinds and sizes.

But designers and carpenters worked hard to create a 22.5-ha village that depicts the cultural and daily aspects of the life of people in various regions of the country.

It has hundreds of model houses, rickshaws, and everyday objects made of bamboo, wood, and clumps of rice straw and grass.

Artisans from as far-flung areas as Cao Bang make traditional dishes, cakes, liquor, and handicrafts, which are both displayed and sold.

There is a playground for traditional games that takes older people back to their childhood when they themselves played those games.

Music and dance and food related to ethnic groups can be seen at several spots around the park.

"We have worked hard with our suppliers, including farms, agricultural companies, and tourist agencies, to make our park one of the city's biggest and best cultural and entertainment centres," Tran Thi Tuyet Nga, a member of the park's managing board, said.

"Through its unique products, we hope visitors will discover and enjoy slices of Vietnam 's history, culture, and lifestyle in different regions.

"I'm sure both local and foreign photographers and artists will find inspiration here."

She and her 200-strong staff hope to welcome 40,000-50,000 visitors during the Tet holidays in the first week of February./.

 


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Thousands flock to flower festival

 

Hanoi (VNA) — Thousands of people in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi began visiting the annual spring flower festival that opened on Jan.26.

A Spring Flower and Drinks Fair which opened in Hanoi will see some last-minute politicking for the selection of Vietnam 's national flower.

The fair will also feature a photo exhibition by HCM City-based photographer Tran Bich dedicated to the lotus, a leading candidate for designation as the national flower.

Bich is dedicated to photographing the lotus, and his images capture the many shapes of the lotus, from bud to faded flower.

Orchids, peach and ochna blossoms are also in contention for the title of national flower, however.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will gather votes on the national flower, national costume and national wine during the festival, and the national flower will be announced on Jan.28 at the Vietnam Lotus Spirit Gala.

At the Lotus Spirit Gala, artisans from Hanoi , Hue and HCM City will create crafts and artworks celebrating the lotus, including lotus lanterns and sculpture and silk lotus.

"We have used many materials to celebrate the lotus," said Hanoi-based artist Nguyen Manh Hung. "Since it's not the season of the lotus in the north now, we have received fresh lotus from the southern province of Dong Thap ."

The competition to select the national costume hasn't gone as smoothly.

"The ao dai is already the national costume for women, but it's difficult to choose the national costume for men," said Vi Kien Thanh, chief of the ministry's art, photography and exhibitions department.

Meanwhile, the selection of a national wine plan is still in the survey stage, Thanh said. Over the past three years, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vietmam Alcohol, Beer and Beverage Association have nominated ruou can (wine drunk from a jar), rice wine, coconut wine and apricot wine for the honour.

The Spring Flowers and Drinks Festival will continue through Jan.30 at the Culture and Art Centre at 2 Hoa Lu street .

The fair will exhibit and offer prizes for wines and spirits made by both traditional and modern methods, offer opportunities to sample wines, tea and coffee, and will feature performances, folk games, an ao dai (traditional long dress) fashion show, and calligraphy exhibition, as well as recreate customs such as the Kitchen Gods Festival. At least 50 enterprises will also display products for Tet, including decorations and ornamental trees.

Ha Giang province will take the spotlight, recreating a provincial market day with local specialities, cuisine and festivities of the province's ethnic people, including pan-pipe dance and folk duets.

The week-long event, which will last until February 1, a day ahead of the Lunar New Year, displays the beauty of Vietnamese flora in Phu My Hung Residential Area, HCM City .

This festival hopes to attract around 500 booths, displaying all kinds of flowers, plants, birds, fish, ceramics and calligraphy.

This year's flower festival in HCM City is expected to attract thousands visitors with a rich assortment of blossoms.

The Phu My Hung Spring Flower Festival 2011 features a contest of special Vietnamese flowers and ornamental trees, called Hoa Dong Co Noi (Flower of Countryside).

Nguyen Thien Tich, vice chairman of the municipal Association of Orchids and Ornamental Trees, said, "It's a chance for everyone to explore the abundant flora in the country."

The country has more than 12,000 flowers and other kinds of plants.

Along with the contests, the week-long festival will include other activities such as a ceremony to release flowers and garlands, and floating lanterns on Ban Nguyet Lake .

The lake will be decorated with giant lotus flowers, which will be lit for photo opportunities.

Different festival areas include Cat Square with flowers arranged in the shapes of cats, the ochna, apricot and peach blossom section, 12 animal designations of the lunar calendar and the legend about the man, Mai An Tiem, who discovered the watermelon.

There will be music shows at the festival every night until the evening of February 1.

The festival, co-organised by Phu My Hung Joint Venture Company and HCM City Ornamental Creature Association, expects to attract more than 500 enterprises displaying flowers, fruit and Tet (Lunar New Year) products.

Last year, more than 500,000 visitors visited the flower festival held in the residential area.

The majority of these products were produced in the city and outlying areas.

Also on Jan.26, 30 flower markets opened around the city to welcome city dwellers shopping to decorate their houses during the New Year's days.

Flower exhibitions will be held at major parks like Gia Dinh, Le Van Tam and September 23. Ochna, kumquat and daisy are among the most popular.

In District 8, flowers carried by boats from the Mekong Delta are being displayed along the canal at Ben Binh Dong. The market recalls the hectic trading activity of Sai Gon 100 years ago.

Around 25 flower markets in districts 5, 6, 10, 11, Go Vap, Tan Phu, Thu Duc, Binh Tan and Cu Chi have opened./.

 


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Disbursement up but FDI falls in January

 

Hanoi (VNA) — Existing foreign investors have disbursed 420 million USD so far this month, a year-on-year increase of 5 percent, the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency has said.

Nevertheless, the agency reported a strong drop of new foreign direct investment influx. Only 40 new projects were granted investment certificates in January with a total registered capital of 182.3 million USD, equivalent to only 15.6 percent of the amount in January last year.

Only five FDI-projects have registered for capital increases this month with a total investment capital addition of 5.3 million USD, a year-on-year fall of 82.6 percent.

Taking into account both new investments and capital increase, in the first month of this year foreign investors registered to invest 187.6 million USD, a year-on-year plunge of 84.3 percent.

The processing and manufacturing industries had attracted most attention from foreign investors with 15 projects, worth 70 million USD (including new and increasing capital), which accounted for 37.3 percent of the total FDI in January.

Second was the construction sector with nine projects involving 63.6 million USD of new and increased capital.

With more than 78.4 million USD of new and additional capital, Ba Ria-Vung Tau was the main destination for foreign investment in January.

Following were HCM City , Ha Tinh and Hung Yen provinces with capital of 46.8 million USD, 20 million USD and 18 million USD, respectively. This month 13 nations and territories invested in Vietnam .

Singapore provided the biggest amount with a total capital of 58.2 million USD, equivalent to 31 percent of the total capital.

The Republic of Korea provided the second biggest with 49.9 million USD. Third was Japan whose firms poured in 26.3 million USD, 14 percent of the total investment.

This agency report is compiled based on the report of provinces and cities up to Jan. 26./.

 


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Markets slide into pre-holiday doldrums

 

Hanoi (VNA) — Shares continued to slide on the HCM Stock Exchange on Jan. 26 but saw a modest rebound in Hanoi , while the volume and value of trades remained sluggish on both bourses.

The VN-Index fell 0.14 percent to close at 501.25 points, despite advancers outnumbering decliners by 166-66. Volume declined by over 42 percent to just 22 million shares, worth a combined 577.5 billion VND (29.6 million USD).

Saigon Securities Inc (SSI) was the most-active share with a volume of only 860,750 traded.

Stocks with a strong influence on the Index, such as insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), real estate developer Vincom (VIC) and software giant FPT, all declined, with BVH dropping to its floor price for a third consecutive day.

Meanwhile, a number of leading companies that have recently posted strong 2010 earnings, rose oln Jan. 26. Vietinbank (CTG), which posted a net profit of over 3.3 trillion VND (169.2 million USD), rose 4 percent, while real estate developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), which earned over 2.1 trillion VND (108.2 million USD), gained 1.9 percent in value.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index increased by 0.44 per cent to end the session at 105.76 points. Gainers outnumbered losers by 196-85, but the overall value of trades fell by over 31 percent from the previous day's session to just 291.4 billion VND (14.9 million USD), on a volume of 15.8 million shares.

VNDirect Securities Co (VND) became the most heavily traded stock nationwide with over 1.1 million shares changing. VND closed up 2.6 percent.

Foreign investors remained net buyers on both exchanges, but by an overall net of just 35 billion VND (1.8 million USD). /.