More than 500 representatives from provincial and municipal Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) chapters nationwide attended in its third meeting in Quang Duc Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City on January 18.

50 Vietnamese artisans will carve the world’s largest statue of Buddha at a weight of 16 tonnes from a 35-tonne jade block measuring 3m tall, 2.15m wide and 2.2m deep.

The Ministry of Construction held a meeting in Hanoi on January 18 to review work in 2009 and devise tasks for 2010.

On January 16 the Region D Naval Service presented New Year (Tet) gifts to soldiers and residents in the island district of Truong Sa (Spratly) in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

Ham Luong Bridge linking Highway 60 from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces opened to traffic on January 17.

Local and foreign experts on child-related issues have shared experiences in ensuring the rights of children through adoption at a recent workshop held by the Ministry of Justice in the central city of Da Nang.

Vietnam and Canada has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in labour, employment and human resource development.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has met with leaders of the southern city of Can Tho, asking them to reserve sufficient goods, and ensure food security and traffic safety, especially on rivers, during the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) has presented money to 14 poorest districts in the country to buy 1,400 cows for local people.

The National Assembly’s Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong has confirmed the necessity for industrialisation and modernisation in the central province of Quang Tri, especially in agriculture and rural areas.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on January 15 presented awards to 408 businesses and private individuals for their great contribution to the education sector.

Hanoi is going to have 5 new high-end hotels opened to provide an additional 2,000 rooms for visitors during National Tourism Year 2010.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Government will provide non-refundable technical aid worth US$1.3 million to the Mekong River Delta region to cope with the impact of climate change.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung received a delegation of China’s Xinhua News Agency led by its permanent Deputy General Director Zhang Xiaohua in Hanoi on January 14. 

Strengthening friendship and cooperation with people of neighbouring countries is one of key tasks for 2010 set by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) at a meeting in Hanoi on January 14. 

Vietnam looks forward to support from the US government and universities to help it establish standard universities to meet the demand for quality human resources. 

More than 3,500 workers across the country have submitted documents to register for unemployment payments, but only 300 of them are eligible to get paid, said an official. 

An annular solar eclipse, believed to be the longest in the next 1,000 years, will occur on January 15 and can be observed in some parts of Vietnam, according to the Geophysics Institute of Vietnam’s Academy of Science and Technology. 

A conference was held in Hanoi on Jan. 14 to evaluate the results of movements launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Society in 2009.

Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) on January 14 held a ceremony at the National Broadcasting Centre to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the its musical ensemble in the presence of General Director, Prof. Dr. Vu Van Hien.

The People’s Committees of provincial and centrally-run cities have introduced a series of measures to ensure food hygiene and safety during the forthcoming lunar New Year Festival (Tet).

The Prime Minister has agreed to organise the Vietnamese Days in China and Russia in 2010 to promote trade, investment and tourism as well as the image of Vietnam abroad.

Australia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have decided to grant US$1.3 million to help Vietnam cope with the potentially devastating impact of climate change in the Mekong Delta.

A national conference to sum up 2009’s religious activities and the prime minister’s directive on housing and land for religious practice was held in Danang on January 13.

The Vietnam Committee for Catholic Solidarity (VCCS) held a plenary meeting on January 13 to review its operation in 2009 and make plans for 2010.

The Lao Cai provincial Hydro Meteorological Forecast Center (HMFC) said it is likely to snow in Sa Pa on the nights of January 13 and 14.

A meeting was held in Hanoi on January 12 by the National Steering Board for Bird Flu and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control to review the control and prevention of epidemics in cattle and poultry in 2009 and work out measures to deal with future problems in 2010.

The Vietnam Satellite Digital Television Company (VSTV) – a joint venture between the Vietnam Television and the French Canal+ Group launched K+ services in Hanoi on January 12.

Lee Joong Keun, President of the Booyoung Company from the Republic of Korea (RoK) will donate 10,000 electronic pianos to Vietnam at the National Conference Centre in Hanoi on January 14.

The President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong met with a delegation from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) of the US in Hanoi on January 12.