pm khai set to leave economy in safe hands

PM Khai set to leave economy in safe hands

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has officially asked for National Assembly permission to step down, after holding the government’s top position since 1997.

CG to smooth over PMU18

Possible disputes over the PMU18 scandal and aid usage are set to be minimised at the Consultative Group (CG) meeting this week in Nha Trang following a dialogue between the government and the international donors.
licensing muddle threatens business

Licensing muddle threatens business

A new wave of business licenses is threatening to spoil Vietnam’s investment environment, and can only be stopped by the political will of the country’s top leadership, prestigious economists warned last week.

Fraud busters to review key projects

An inter-ministerial investigation team is hurriedly being set up to check the nation’s key infrastructure projects following an urgent and unprecedented directive signed last week by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

Radical PMU makeover reconstructured

A draft regulation to restructure project management units using both official development assistance and locally sourced capital is being hurriedly prepared by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in an attempt to control the billions of dollars of aid that floods into the country each year more efficiently.
state targets record economic growth

State targets record economic growth

The government has vowed to take strong measures to ensure record high economic growth for the coming year.

EU gives Vietnam WTO lift

The bilateral agreement between Vietnam and the European Union for the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization was inked last week following intensive negotiations.

Economic stats fail to impress NA

Vietnam’s strong economic growth in 2004 is pleasing government officials but still not satisfying the National Assembly (NA), which is calling for the government to implement further measures to achieve its economic commitments.

Deal to draw fresh Japanese investment

VIETNAM and Japan have reached agreement on 42 of 44 items in an action plan known as the Joint Initiative to ease the way for investment in Vietnam after more than eight months of intensive negotiations.

Japan-Vietnam ink landmark investment pact

The long-awaited agreement between Vietnam and Japan for the liberalisation, promotion and protection of investment was finally signed in Tokyo last week by Vo Hong Phuc, Minister of Planning and Investment and Yoriko Kawaguchi Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Government gets cold feet over international bond issue

VIETNAM may suspend its plan to issue government bonds on international financial markets, despite the high level of interest from foreign investors.“Now is not the right time for the bond issue,” Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said. “But we haven’t decided for sure if we will call it off altogether.”
the necklaces of co tu men

The necklaces of Co Tu men

Visitors to the villages of Co Tu ethnic minority people in Quang Nam Province on special festivals will have an opportunity to see men wearing the shining necklaces made of silver and agate besides the colorful and unique costumes dressed by young women.
sacred yen tu mountain

Sacred Yen Tu Mountain

Yen Tu Mountain has been associated with the name and career of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong, who founded the Truc Lam Zen sect bearing the typical Buddhist culture of the Vietnamese people.
finding inner peace at yen tu

Finding inner peace at Yen Tu

To get away from the noisy and bustling city atmosphere, one is recommended to take a trip to a spiritual relic site on Yen Tu Mountain in the northern province of Quang Ninh. There, they can free themselves from their daily chores to find the peace of mind and relax in a state of meditation.
co tu ethnic architecture in spotlight

Co Tu ethnic architecture in spotlight

An international seminar on preserving the traditional architecture of the Co Tu ethnic group took place on August 20 in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.