New Zealand GeoNet recorded that the quake occurred at 4:18 p.m. local time, with epicenter of 132 km below and 785 km away from Whakatane in north island. United States Geological Survey recorded the quake at 6.9 magnitude with epicenter of 111 km below. Ministry of Civil Defense of New Zealand said that based on current information, the initial assessment ruled out a subsequent tsunami threat after the quake. … [Read more...] about 6.7-magnitude quake jolts New Zealand’s remote islands, no tsunami alert
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Lasik eye surgery is a clear way to perfect vision
Talk Around Town (02-01-2005) Lasik eye surgery is a clear way to perfect vision You’re on the go. You don’t have time to deal with glasses or care for contacts, but you need to be able to see, it’s essential. Lasik Laser surgery can perfect your vision and liberate you from hassle. I came across this advertisement on the Internet a year ago and was attracted by this idea. I immediately contacted ophthalmologists and people who had undergone eye surgery for more information. Being near-sighted, I had to wear glasses all the time. It was difficult for me to drive my motorbike on rainy days or go out for a picnic with my friends. I quickly decided this new technology was for me and had the surgery one week later. Now, my vision is 20/20. For Truong Cong Thai, a third-year student from Hai Phong City’s Maritime University, the laser operation made it more comfortable for him to play football and go swimming. Thai decided to register for laser surgery despite his … [Read more...] about Lasik eye surgery is a clear way to perfect vision
Wushu’s Duc selected as top athlete in HN
Wushu’s Duc selected as top athlete in HN Number one: ‘Golden girl’ wushu artist Nguyen Thi My Duc performs at the last SEA Games in Ha Noi. She bagged two gold medals for Viet Nam at the Games last December and won two at the World Championship earlier this month. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha (31-12-2004) Viet Nam’s "golden girl" world wushu champion Nguyen Thi My Duc was chosen Ha Noi’s sports person of the year by the nation’s journalists in Ha Noi on Thursday. The 19-year-old Duc, who won two gold medals at the World Wushu Championship in Myanmar early this month, earned 758 points for first place, while table tennis star Tran Tuan Quynh polled 469 points to be placed second, and gymnast Do Thi Ngan Thuong took third. International Tennis Fede-ration’s U-18 silver medalist Nguyen Thuy Dung, who was in the top-15 of the selection, was also excited to be honoured as one of the best in the city. "I’ve just returned from HCM City … [Read more...] about Wushu’s Duc selected as top athlete in HN
Tram slips to tie for first at chess champs
Tram slips to tie for first at chess champs (31-12-2004) HA NOI — As the Asian Junior Chess Championship moved on to the 10th round in Bikaner, India on Wednesday, Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Viet Nam slipped into a tie for first place after she was held to a draw by Malaysian Sulaikha Siti. Tram’s draw with Siti, who had only earned five points from nine rounds, means at 8.5 points she now shares first place with Indian Harika Dronavalli, who defeated countrywoman J.E. Kavitha. With only one round remaining, Tram must win the last match to ensure herself the gold medal. However, she is already guaranteed a medal as the fourth place player is 2.5 points behind. Apart from Harika, another Indian player, Soumya Swaminathan, could possibly win as she has eight points after ten rounds. In the last round Tram will play N Sandhya of India. In the men’s event, Nguyen Van Huy earned one more point, rising to 11th place on six points. Meanwhile, leader Arun Prasad was shocked after … [Read more...] about Tram slips to tie for first at chess champs
Governmental transparency tops Fatherland Front agenda
Governmental transparency tops Fatherland Front agenda (31-12-2004) HA NOI — A regulation allowing local people to supervise local State employees and Party members topped the agenda at the opening session of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee’s Presidium on Wednesday. According to the front’s draft regulation, the local people would be able to supervise the implementation of the Party’s policies and State laws by State and Party members, the ethics and lifestyles of the leaders and the practice of democracy at the grassroots level. Most members of the Fatherland Front presidium hailed the regulation as an important instrument to improve the awareness, duty and accountability of State and Party members. They believed that any wrongdoings could be prevented by close supervision from the people, thus limiting corruption, bureaucracy and waste. In terms of the subject and scope of supervision, presidium member Nguyen Khanh suggested more specific … [Read more...] about Governmental transparency tops Fatherland Front agenda
Russian official hails co-operation with Viet Nam
Russian official hails co-operation with Viet Nam (31-12-2004) MOSCOW — One of Russia’s policy priorities in Southeast Asia is enhancement of cooperation with Viet Nam, said Sergey Moronov, Speaker of the Russian Federal Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament. In an interview with Moscow-based Vietnamese media representatives on Tuesday, Moronov stressed that the Russia-Viet Nam friendship has developed into a strategic partnership as outlined in the statement on strategic partnership signed on March 1, 2001 during the official visit to Viet Nam by President Vladimir Putin. The upcoming arrival in Viet Nam of a delegation of the Russian Federal Council on January 8 will be an affirmation and continuation of the desired direction and will contribute to further promoting the development of ties between Russia and Viet Nam, said Mironov. The selection of Viet Nam as the venue of the 13th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO), … [Read more...] about Russian official hails co-operation with Viet Nam
Music stars perform for needy students
Music stars perform for needy students (03-01-2005) Duyen Dang Viet Nam (Vietnamese Charm), a four-day music and fashion extravaganza, will be sponsored by Thanh Nien(Young People) newspaper to raise funds for the publication’s Nguyen Thai Binh Scholarship programme for poor students. One of the largest music and fashion shows of the year, Duyen Dang Viet Nam will feature modern and traditional music around the theme of Viet Nam and its beauty and will run for four nights beginning on Thursday, at HCM City’s Phan Dinh Phung Sports Complex. More than 60 popular vocalists and top models will perform or appear including overseas Vietnamese singers Quang, Elvis Phuong and Huong Lan. Duy Quang will perform his own piece, Kiep Dam Me (Passionate Time), while Elvis Phuong and Huong Lan will perform a duet of the popular Hon Vong Phu (Wife Waiting for her Husband) I, II and III with local singer Quang Linh. Music stars My Linh, Thanh Lam, Hong Nhung, My Tam, Dam Vinh Hung, … [Read more...] about Music stars perform for needy students
Viet Nam’s only female captain sails on
Viet Nam’s only female captain sails on (02-01-2005) Hong navigated the sea in the wake of a typhoon, becoming one of the country’s bravest women. Now she tells the story of her courage and how her love for the water drew her back to the waves as a riverboat pilot. Nhat Le reports She became renowned for her courage and bravery when she rescued 36 people during the fierce Typhoon Linda which struck Viet Nam in November 1997, a storm which killed or causing the disappearance of some 4,000 people and losses estimated at VND5.5 trillion. She was honoured for her heroism in 2000. After the storm, Hong met with many difficulties as her ship had been badly damaged, and she had little money to repair it. The recognition she received for her heroism brought fame to Hong but it couldn’t help her earn a living. Hong decided to work for a foreign company. But for Nguyen Thi Hong, the only female ship captain in Viet Nam, her greatest indulgence remains the sea. Inner Sanctum: … [Read more...] about Viet Nam’s only female captain sails on
PM urges greater efforts to meet 2005 economic targets
PM urges greater efforts to meet 2005 economic targets (31-12-2004) HCM CITY — Greater efforts must be made by all economic sectors to help the country reach its 2005 socio-economic targets, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said at a national conference in HCM City on Thursday. "To achieve 8.5 per cent economic growth for 2005, all sectors need to take measures to make the best use of their existing resources and potential and make significant changes to the national economy," Khai told the leaders of ministries and provinces attending the meeting. Khai said more capital for large-scale development projects was needed as well as better financial management, particularly in the allocation and use of the State budget funds and in the construction sector. "To raise investment in major development projects and localities in need, we may issue Government bonds if necessary," he said. "But we need to calculate precisely the bond’s scale and extent." "Fragmentary investment in capital … [Read more...] about PM urges greater efforts to meet 2005 economic targets
ISO 9000 firms may fail to uphold quality
ISO 9000 firms may fail to uphold quality (31-12-2004) HA NOI — Two thousand Vietnamese enterprises have qualified for the ISO 9000 international certification standard, but many of them may have failed to maintain their quality levels after receiving certification, warned participants in a seminar last week. Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, director of the Viet Nam Productivity Centre (VPC), told a quality seminar in Ha Noi that her organisation found that many enterprises only consider the standard as a certificate "to be hung on the wall" rather than a system of quality control mechanisms to be used throughout the entire process. When the system is not deployed, it becomes useless, she said. Most businesses have been using a dual system of quality control: one which is ISO-compliant and one for their businesses, said Pho Duc Tru, a productivity specialist at the VPC. When inspectors come, businesses will operate using the ISO system and revert back to their old methods when they leave, … [Read more...] about ISO 9000 firms may fail to uphold quality
Agriculture posts $4 billion in exports
Agriculture posts $4 billion in exports Workers at Dong Giao Export Food Company process pineapples for export. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue (31-12-2004) HA NOI — Viet Nam agro-forestry exports increased about 30 per cent this year to US$4 billion, with 25 per cent of the exports coming from the wood processing industry. Viet Nam also exported a record 100,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, worth more than $400 million. The nuts were primarily exported to China, Russia, Europe and the US. In the US, Vietnamese nuts accounted for 15 per cent of that country’s market share. Also this year, Viet Nam exported 3.9 tonnes of rice, the same amount as last year. However, the value of the exports increased by nearly 23 percent, reaching over US$900 million. Despite the falling coffee prices in the world market, Vietnamese coffee exporters were still able to increase their exports by 40 per cent. The tea sector also increased their exports, boosting their total from 60,000 tonnes … [Read more...] about Agriculture posts $4 billion in exports
Engineer seeks to modernise domestic shopping
Engineer seeks to modernise domestic shopping (31-12-2004) HA NOI — For someone who may be too lazy to go out for lunch sometimes, a third-year Vietnamese software engineer studying at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia may have the solution. Ngo Chi Duc named his project "dshop" capitalising on the Vietnamese word-play of "going shopping". The idea of dshop grew out of Duc and his Pythis Software Company co-workers’ boredom with the food at their nearby restaurant. He first conceived of a machine that could be installed in trade centres and offices that allowed people to order lunch on the internet, however with unreliable internet access in Viet Nam he thought the food orders would take too long. Instead he chose a wireless, 54Mbps local area network replacement that does not depend on internet. From there, Duc expanded dshop to become an e-shopping machine that offered all kinds of goods. Duc’s concept of dshop was a model for a … [Read more...] about Engineer seeks to modernise domestic shopping
Viet Nam hopes to delay ASEAN tariffs
Viet Nam hopes to delay ASEAN tariffs (31-12-2004) HA NOI — Viet Nam will negotiate with other ASEAN members in an effort to receive special treatment regarding tariff rates for some products included on the CEPT Scheme’s Temporary Exclusion List, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Thursday. In accordance with the ASEAN Free Trade Area’s Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme (CEPT), Viet Nam is to phase out tariffs for certain products included on the list or otherwise impose a reduced rate of 0-5 per cent by January 1, 2006. Viet Nam wants to be able to set its own rate roadmap for certain goods including radar transceivers, ore residue, garbage and medical waste, art, wine, tobacco, automobiles, motorbikes, bike parts, used tyres and petroleum. The ministry has outlined a plan which will extend the deadline for required tax rates of transceivers, ore residue, art works, wine, automobiles, motorbikes, bike parts and petroleum. When tariffs are … [Read more...] about Viet Nam hopes to delay ASEAN tariffs
Rubber exports bounce to 15-year high
Rubber exports bounce to 15-year high (31-12-2004) HA NOI — The Viet Nam Rubber Corporation (VRC) estimates total export turnover this year in the amount of US$300 million, its highest level of export turnover in 15 years. The company estimates that it has exported 250,000 tonnes of all kinds of rubber this year. VRC has attained high export turnover due to an increase in the price of rubber on the world market. Growth of demand for rubber in China has driven up Asian rubber prices up. Viet Nam’s rubber industry overall this year exported 439,600 tonnes of rubber through November, 13.2 per cent more than in the same period last year, for a total value of $513.2 million, an increase of 55 per cent, according to the Ministry of Trade (MoT). In November, the country shipped 114,700 tonnes of rubber, earning $137.4 million. Rubber exports are expected to reach 494,000 tonnes in volume and $578 million in value this year. Viet Nam’s principle rubber export markets include … [Read more...] about Rubber exports bounce to 15-year high
Welcome to new english version of vietnamtourism.gov.vn
{mosimage}In the effort to give you more and more about Vietnam Tourism development, we try our best to uprade the content as well as the layout of official websites of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.Beside vietnamtourism.com, vietnamtourism.gov.vn focus on VNAT's activities, central and provincial state policy on tourism developement. Also, several topics will be discussed among tourist specialists and tourists themselves. … [Read more...] about Welcome to new english version of vietnamtourism.gov.vn
Australia, HCM City enjoy fine cooperation
Australia wants to further enhance its relationship with Vietnam in all fields, including cooperative ties between Australian localities and Ho Chi Minh City, for the benefits of the two peoples. Australian General-Governor Quentin Bryce emphasised this desire at a meeting with the chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Le Hoang Quan on May 12. Bryce expressed her impressions of Vietnam’s poverty reduction results and said she was pleased that Australia’s assistance projects in Vietnam, especially child-oriented projects, were effective. Chairman Quan spoke highly of the fine cooperation between the city and Australia, especially in the fields of science and technology and tourism, education and training, notably RMIT University, that has trained about 10,000 students over the past 10 years. He added that Ho Chi Minh City was Vietnam’s first locality to sign a cooperation agreement with an Australian partner, firstly with the State of Queensland, … [Read more...] about Australia, HCM City enjoy fine cooperation
Party leader: VN to become modern industrialised country
The report was presented by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh atthe opening session of the 11 th National Party Congress in Hanoion Jan. 12.The Vietnam News Agency published main contents of the report.Reviewingfive years of implementing the 10 th Party Congress’s resolution, thereport identified advantages brought about by the renewal process andinternational integration, as well as mentioning difficulties andchallenges caused by deep-rooted weaknesses of the national economy.Italso mentioned natural disasters, disease epidemics, complicateddevelopments in the region and the world, impacts from the globaleconomic recession and financial crisis, as well as subversive andviolence-incited activities and the “peaceful revolution” undertaken byhostile forces.By looking into those, the report affirmed thatin such circumstances, the entire Party and the entire people hadexerted efforts to fight off difficulties and challenges and attainedimportant achievements in … [Read more...] about Party leader: VN to become modern industrialised country
Parkson eyes retail coup
Parkson Corp, a subsidiary of Malaysian Lion Diversified Holdings, has received the Vietnamese government’s in-principle approval to enter the local retail market, which is normally off-limits to foreign distributors. Parkson’s application for an investment licence is now awaiting approval from the Ministry of Planning and Investment. A government notice issued last week asked that the licence require Parkson to support the export of domestic products and seriously invest in the local fashion design industry. The retailer applied for a licence to set up a 100 per cent foreign-owned enterprise with initial investment capital of $15 million. The company aims to design, produce and distribute garment products throughout Vietnam, with its first centre to be located in Ho Chi Minh City.Parkson stated the centre would sell locally-made garments and only import products that were not produced in Vietnam. In addition, foreign products will not exceed 5 per cent of the total value … [Read more...] about Parkson eyes retail coup
Parkson to push into retail market
One of Malaysia’s largest retail chains is seeking government approval to open its first shopping mall in Vietnam.Parkson, the retailing arm of the Lion Group that already operates 36 malls in China, wants to open a 2,000-square-metre retail centre and supermarket on the corner of Dong Khoi and Le Thanh Ton streets, the two major shopping highways in Ho Chi Minh City. Parkson’s investment licence application has been approved by the city’s department of planning and investment and is now being considered by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), a department spokesperson said last week. “The MPI will look at the application before it is passed to the prime minister for final approval,” said the head of the department’s foreign enterprises division, Lu Thanh Phong.“The city has approved Parkson’s plan to open a shopping mall but the application needs to be approved by other relevant bodies,” Phong said.The local partner in … [Read more...] about Parkson to push into retail market
Shrimp farmers to take on US anti-dumping suit
“No one knows when the US shrimp lobby will file the application, but their determination to proceed with the case is clear,” Dung said.Rumour has it that the Southern Shrimp Alliance and Louisiana Shrimp Alliance have threatened to take action against shrimp imports from countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, India and Ecuador. Dung said VASEP had been working with the possibility of such a case in mind, lecturing businesses about US anti-dumping laws, studying the US shrimp industry’s advantages and disadvantages and formulating arguments to prove local exporters had not undercut prices.He estimated that Vietnam would need between $1.2 and $1.5 million to proceed with the case, with funds to be raised from local shrimp exporters.Dung said the shrimp committee, which was established a few months ago to deal with the case, was selecting law companies to assist local exporters.Le Thanh Son, managing director of AIC Lawyers and Consultants, which has applied to … [Read more...] about Shrimp farmers to take on US anti-dumping suit