The third Vietnam Telecoms International Summit will take place in Hanoi on May 18-20.

The Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation has announced awards for contributions to Vietnamese studies, culture, and education in 2009.

The third “Green Sunday” campaign was launched in Thanh Thuy district, Phu Tho province on March 21, attracting 3,000 youth union members and students.

More than 1,000 students in Ho Chi Minh City on March 21 participated in a bicycle parade, launched by the city’s Youth Union to promote “Earth Hour 2010”.

In response to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, more than 400 students and 100 fishermen attended a communication campaign in Quang Tri province to protect sea turtles on March 20-21.

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue and the provincial Buddhist Sangha held a large requiem for fallen combatants at the Hue City Cemetery on March 21.

Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak provincial People’s Committee, Dinh Van Khiet, on March 20 worked with representatives from Canada’s Blue Diamond Technologies (BDT) Corporation on the construction of a waste treatment plant.

A five-member US war veterans’ delegation led by Dan Tocker arrived at Phuoc Tuong mountain pass in Phu Loc district of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on March 20 to identify a mass grave of liberation soldiers who died on duty at the US’ former Tomahawk artillery base.

The Vietnamese Embassy in the US held a New Year get-together for Vietnamese nationals in Washington DC on March 19.

Hanoi’s Department of Education and Training and the Vietnam Language Link Centre launched the 2010 English Olympiad for primary school students in Hanoi on March 20.

The 8th annual job transaction floor opened in Ho Chi Minh City on March 20, attracting thousands of job seekers.

Thirty-three information-communication technology (ICT) awards were presented to ICT businesses in Hanoi on March 20 in recognition of their efficient operations and contributions to national development.

Prof. Edward J. Baker on March 19 became the first US professor to be presented the insignia “For the Cause of Education” by the Ministry of Education and Training for his contributions to educational development in Vietnam.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide technical assistance to a project on human resource development for the urban water sector in the central region of Vietnam.

The Ministry of Public Security has coordinated with the Supreme Prosecution of the Republic of Korea on a project to combat drug-related crime.

Some agencies and companies from the US will coordinate with Vietnamese authorities to organise a seminar on environmental solutions for Vietnam, said the American Telecommunications Certification Body (ATCB) on March 18.

Saigontourist Travel Service Company will launch a Meeting-Incentive-Conference-Event (MICE) programme for 18 members of the US Dove charity organisation from March 19-April 5.

Bahamas cruise ship C.COLUMBUS docked at Nha Trang Port on March 18, bringing 254 foreign tourists to the city.

Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee of Hai Phong Nguyen Van Thanh sent the city’s insignia and certificate of merit to Belgian Prof. Dr. Luc Hens, Head of the Human Ecology Department in Free University of Brussels on March18.

The Prime Minister has urged the Ministry of Public Security to go ahead with a national project on issuing E-passport in 2011, announced the Government Office.

The Agricultural Development Denmark Asia (ADDA), a Danish non-governmental orgnaisation, has launched the second phase of the project on community development for ethnic minority groups in the northern region.

The first flight from Kansai, Osaka province, Japan on March 18 landed in the central city of Da Nang, bringing 161 tourists and representatives of 17 travel agencies.

The Finnish non-governmental organisation Fida International will provide US$213,000 for a project on the disabled in the central city of Da Nang during the 2010-2014 period.

The World Bank is seeking long-term cooperation with Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) in broadcasting news and information regarding such issues as environmental protection and fighting corruption.

An international seminar on “educational technology and occupational environment in Vietnam” was held in Hue city on March 18 under the auspicies of Hue University and Toulouse University, France.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen attended an inauguration ceremony of National Highway 78 in Banlung city, Rattanakirri province on March 18.

The number of children contracting hand, foot mouth disease (HFMD) is on the rise even though the peak season is still one month away, Children Hospitals Nos 1 and 2 in HCM City have announced.

A Hanoi-based blood-borne viral testing laboratory, part of a cooperation project between Vietnam and Ireland, was officially put into operation on March 17.

Another patient has died of the A/H5N1 virus on March 17 in Ho Chi Minh City, confirmed a city health official.

German environmental experts and representatives of local nature reserves and environment organisations gathered in the southern province of Soc Trang on March 17 for a three-day workshop to find out the best ways of managing natural resources in Vietnam.