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Archive for July 24th, 2010|Daily archive page

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More travelers take summer tours

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:23 pm




More travelers take summer tours


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:35 (GMT+7)

The number of tourists embarking on summer tours has increased by at least 15% in 2010 compared to the same period last year, according to travel agencies in Ho Chi Minh City.


According to Mr Tran The Dung, Deputy Director of the The He Tre (Young Generation) Travel Company, the company sold summer tours in central and northern provinces to 4,052 customers with a discount of 30% to 35% in June. The number of tourists had increased three fold as compared to May figures.


Tours at the weekends are always fully booked. Mostly, weekend tours to Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands were sold well before the summer. Thus, many travel agencies have to organise weekday tours.


Because of the recent hot weather, most of tourists chose to tours along the coast. Hotels in famous coastal tourist sites, such as Phan Thiet, Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Vung Tau, are continually fully booked this summer.


According to the Saigontourist Travel Service Company, tourists from the northern provinces selected tours in the central and southern regions thanks to non-stop flights between these destinations.


The number of travelers flying on domestic flights this summer has also soared, said Vietnam Airlines.


In the first five months of 2010, Singapore welcomed 113,000 Vietnamese visitors, up 20% compared to the same period last year, said Chang Chee Pey, Managing Director of the Singapore Tourism Board in Southeast Asia.


In 2009, as many as 265,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Singapore, an increase of 10.9% compared to 2008’s figure.


Source: Tuoi Tre


Translated by Duy Minh


Source: QDND

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July’s CPI records the lowest rise over six years

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:23 pm




July’s CPI records the lowest rise over six years


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:38 (GMT+7)

The country’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) in July went up by only 0.06 percent from June, the lowest level so far against Julys since 2004. This is also the lowest increase since the beginning of the year.


The General Statistics Office says with this slight fluctuation, the CPI for the past seven months rose 4.84 percent over December 2009 and 8.67 percent against the same period in 2009.


July’s CPI for the first time increased in only eight out of 11 groups of commodities. The most significant increase was seen in drinks and tobacco (0.41 percent), followed by household goods and appliances (0.39 percent). Goods such as textiles, garments and shoes posted an increase of 0.35 percent.


July is the month of college and university entrance exams but the prices of educational products and services rose by only 0.11 percent.


Although restaurant and related services saw an 0.21 percent increase, food dropped by 0.97 percent, causing a dramatic impact on the CPI’s decline.


Other sharp declines were found in transport (0.94 percent), housing and construction materials (0.47 percent), and post and telecommunications (0.07 percent).


The low CPI in July is attributed to bumper rice crops and the drop in the price of rice, petrol and oil. Another factor is the slight fluctuation in the CPI in the two economic hubs, with HCM City down by 0.09 percent and Hanoi up by 0.25 percent against June.


However, experts warn that Vietnam is coming into the storm season with many unforeseen difficulties ahead, which could possibly lead to a serious imbalance between demand and supply. Major cities, especially Hanoi and HCM City, are urged to continue their efforts to stabilize the eight essential goods, while the government needs to proceed with flexible measures to manage the macro-economy.


In July, gold prices on the market went up by 2.15 percent from June, and by 35.86 percent against the same period in 2009.


Meanwhile, the price of the US dollar has risen 0.38 percent against June and 5.04 percent against a year ago after merchant banks raised their deposit interest rates and boosted the purchase of the US dollar.


Source: VOV


Source: QDND

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12,000 roses laid to martyrs

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:23 pm




12,000 roses laid to martyrs


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:35 (GMT+7)

On the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27th), a delegation of Buddhist monks and nuns from the Giac Nguyen pagoda in Da Lat city laid 12,000 roses in memory of the martyrs at the Truong Son Martyr Cemetery in the central province of Quang Tri.


The flowers were selected carefully from the beautiful gardens of Da Lat city before being transported to Quang Tri. Upon arrival at the Truong Son Martyr Cemetery, the flowers are still fresh and beautiful.


At the cemetery, the delegation held a requiem for the martyrs who died during the war for national independence. Afterwards, the participants laid the flowers on each martyrs’ tombs.


The meaningful event was initiated by the Reverend Buddhist monk, Thich Thuong Hoa, head of the Giac Nguyen Pagoda, following his first trip to the Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery in October 2009. The expense for the flowers was financed by a Da Lat businessman.


Source: Dan Tri


Translated by Duy Minh


Source: QDND

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Landslides kill two in Ha Giang

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:23 pm




Landslides kill two in Ha Giang


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:35 (GMT+7)

Heavy downpour and flash floods on July 24 caused landslides and killed two local residents in the northern mountain province of Ha Giang.


At 09.00 am flash floods triggered a sudden fall of thousands of cubic metres of earth and rocks down the hill in Khuay Hao village, Yen Minh district. Earth and rocks reduced a house owned by Sinh Minh Sinh, a Mong ethnic local, to rubble and killed his three-year-old niece Sinh Thi Chinh. 


The district administration and Red Cross society dispatched rescue forces to the site and provided the Sinh with VND6 million in relief aid to help them stabilise life.


Three hours earlier, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds also caused a landslide in Na Tri commune, Xin Man district. Hundreds of earth and rocks fell down and flattened nurse Nguyen Thi Thu Hien’s house. The 26-year-old nurse died immediately.


District administration officials rushed to the site and instructed local rescue forces to deal with the aftermath of the natural calamity. The district and its Red Cross society provided VND3 million to Hien’s family to organise the memorial service for the unfortunate nurse.


Meanwhile, storm Chanthu, which weakened into a low pressure system on July 23, has dumped heavy rains of 232mm on the northern mountain province of Yen Bai. Torrential rains have caused flooding in 5 wards in Yen Bai city, a house in Hop Minh commune to collapse, and water levels in major rivers to swell up.

Source: VOV

Source: QDND

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Acute diarrhoea spreads across southern provinces

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:22 pm




Acute diarrhoea spreads across southern provinces


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:38 (GMT+7)

The acute diarrhoea epidemic is spreading from far and wide in southern provinces, including Cau Mau, An Giang, Ben Tre and Can Tho City, according to the Department of Preventive Health and the Environment.


Nguyen Van Binh, vice director of the department, says that about 70 percent of the contracted cases show minor symptoms or none of any symptoms of the disease.


He said it is difficult to control the number of newly infected cases, as most of them are not hospitalised for clinical examinations.


Binh also warns that vibrio cholarae bacterium can be much detected in ice water, canals and even dog meat.


Acute diarrhoea has shown signs of waning in the northern region with no new cases reported over the past weeks.


Source: VOV


Source: QDND

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Paying tribute to martyrs in Quang Tri

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:22 pm




Paying tribute to martyrs in Quang Tri


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:35 (GMT+7)


Party officials, military officers and war veterans offered incense to war martyrs at a newly-built memorial house in the central province of Quang Tri on July 24.

The memorial house was built on the northern bank of the Thach Han river in An Dong ward, Quang Tri town, to commemorate soldiers who laid down their lives on the Quang Tri frontier, especially at the Quang Tri Citadel and on the Thach Han River.


The project was built at a cost of VND15 billion contributed by employers and employees of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV).


At the event, To Huy Rua, a Party Politburo member and a Party Central Committee Secretary, expressed the Party, State and people’s deep gratitude towards heroic soldiers who sacrificed themselves for national independence and freedom during the past wars.


Mr Rua, who is also head of the Party Commission for Communication and Education, called on the people to take part in the “Paying Debt of Gratitude” movement to assist relatives of the fallen combatants living in difficulty.


Mr Rua and military officers and war veterans released flowers at Thach Han wharf – part of the memorial house project.


Later, he visited families of war invalids and martyrs in Ai Tu town, Trieu Phong district, and paid floral tribute to fallen combatants at National Cemetery Road No9.


The same day, Quang Tri province broke ground for a project to build War Martyrs Monument in the northern bank of the Thach Han River at a cost of VND40 billion.


Vietnam observes War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day on July 27.

Source: VOV

Source: QDND

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Volunteers in Laos celebrate Hanoi’s millennial anniversary

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:22 pm




Volunteers in Laos celebrate Hanoi’s millennial anniversary


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:38 (GMT+7)

The Young Volunteer’s Green Summer Campaign 2010 launched by Hanoi’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Hatsaiphong district, Vientiane, Laos from July 19-24 has concluded successfully.


Nguyen Hong Dan, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Union and Chairman of the Hanoi Youth Association, said that the campaign aimed to promote friendship between Hanoi and Vientiane Youth Unions and mark the 1,000 anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.


The campaign provided free health check-ups and medicines for 1,000 people and presented gifts to beneficiary and disadvantaged families. The Hanoi Union and the Vientiane Union built a club for Phothon school, a joint project between the two capitals to celebrate Hanoi’s millennial anniversary.


The Hanoi Union took part in cultural and sports activities and exchanged experiences with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union.


This is the fourth successive year that the Hanoi Union has organised voluntary activities in Vientiane.


Source: VOV


Source: QDND

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Politburo member receives Japanese foreign minister

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 3:22 pm




Politburo member receives Japanese foreign minister


QĐND – Saturday, July 24, 2010, 21:38 (GMT+7)

Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Politburo member Truong Tan Sang received the Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in Hanoi on July 24.


Mr Okada, who is in Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and related meetings, expressed his impression of Vietnam’s development and highly valued the leadership of the CPV. He also praised Vietnam for its careful preparation and organization of the meetings.


Foreign Minister Okada affirmed the Japanese Government attaches great importance to its ties with Vietnam and wants to boost bilateral cooperation through major projects. He said the Japanese prime minister will pay an official visit to Vietnam soon this year.


Mr Sang, who is also a permanent member of the Party Secretariat, welcomed Mr Okada to Vietnam, saying this visit demonstrates Japan’s support for Vietnam and regional cooperation.


He also thanked the Japanese government and people for assisting Vietnam through ODA and economic and trade cooperation. He reiterated Vietnam’s policy to value and develop its strategic partnership with Japan for peace and prosperity in Asia.


Mr Sang also highlighted the role played by the foreign ministries of both countries in speeding up the implementation of bilateral agreements and programmes.


Source: VOV


Source: QDND

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Largest embroidered painting to cerebrate Hanoi completed

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 11:18 am

The biggest embroidered painting to cerebrate Hanoi’s millennial anniversary is displayed at XQ Art House in Da Lat City. (Photo:SGGP)

The Vietnam’s biggest embroidered painting entitled Uoc nguyen 1,000 nam Thang Long (Thang Long’s thousand-year wishes) to cerebrate Hanoi’s millennial anniversary was completed, said Vo Van Quan, director of embroidered painting manufacturer XQ Company on July 23.


The painting is displaying at XQ Art House, Yersin street, Da Lat City before transferring to Hanoi.


The 4m long, 3m high and 167.5kg weight painting depicts the ancient town,  a roof in Vietnamese pagoda architecture style and a flock of Lac birds on the background of lotus blossoms.


To complete the painting, nine excellent artisans had worked for three months.


 


Source: SGGP

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Russia insists on tech transfer in French warship deal

In Uncategorized on July 24, 2010 at 11:18 am

Russia’s top naval commander Saturday insisted its purchase of French warships would only go ahead if there were a transfer of technology, warning that otherwise there was “no point” in the deal.

French Mistral-class helicopter carrier

The comments by Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky come a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy assured workers at a French shipyard that the decision to go ahead with the deal was “certain”.


“What is important here is to obtain the possibility of a transfer of key, fundamental technologies… not just in ship building but in several other areas,” Vysotsky told the Echo of Moscow radio.


“This is without doubt the main condition for this transaction. If this does not happen then there is no point in undertaking this,” he added.


“We do not need the ship but we do need its possibilities.”


Russia has been negotiating with France for months to buy the Mistral-class helicopter carriers but the deal has yet to be finalised, with the issue of technology transfer apparently the main sticking point.


Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told AFP last month that Moscow would only go ahead with the deal if it included a transfer of the technology that makes the Mistral one of the most powerful in the French fleet.


The deal would be the first sale of advanced military hardware to Russia by a NATO country.

Source: SGGP