According to the Ministry of Health, by April 30, 2006, Vietnam had 106,288 HIV-infected people, 17,378 of whom developed full-blown AIDS. It is predicted that around 40,000 people are to be infected with the virus every year and 311,500 people will live with HIV/AIDS by 2010.

The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) held a press conference in Hanoi on June 6 to announce the proceedings of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims, which will take place in the US on June 18.

A meeting was held in Hanoi on June 6 to mark the 66th traditional day of the Vietnamese elderly and the debut of the Elderly Care Fund of Vietnam.

Over the past years, many individuals, enterprises and benefactors have significantly contributed to the country’s education and training development and set bright and honoured examples.

“We will face a high risk of widespread bird flu infections if no urgent and effective measures are taken to stamp out the epidemic,” Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat warned at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control in Hanoi on June 5.

A meeting to mark the 96th anniversary of the day President Ho Chi Minh left home on a quest for national independence was held at Nha Rong Wharf in Ho Chi Minh City on June 5.

Almost 300 orphaned and disadvantaged children gathered at the Dillon-Dalat 2007 summer camp in the resort city of Da Lat on June 5.

Findings of a recent survey made by the Ministry of Science and Technology show that hazardous substances in all waste water samples it took surpassed accepted safety levels.

Three senior high-school students from the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang will represent Vietnam at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in August.

In a document sent to bird-flu affected provinces, the Ministry of Health has asked them to early detect bird flu outbreaks and suspected cases of infection among humans for timely treatment. Localities should also store enough antibiotics to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

Air pollution has badly affected road users and city residents and caused an increase in respiratory diseases. However, reducing dust and waste fuel discharge is a serious challenge.

The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) has gathered new evidence in favour of Vietnamese plaintiffs in their proceedings against US chemical companies scheduled for New York on June 18, according to Dr Tran Xuan Thu, VAVA vice president and general secretary.

Nha Trang Port in central coastal Khanh Hoa province on June 4 received Superstar Gemini cruise ship with Panama nationality, carrying 520 tourists from Australia and some Asian countries.

Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ( MoNRE) launched an “Environment and Development 2007” competition in Hanoi on June 4.

As many as 4.41 million children across the country received vitamin A for free at local medical stations during the “Micro-Nutrition Days” on June 1 and 2.

The People’s Court of northern border Dien Bien province has delivered death penalties to two defendants for leading a 21-member ring in trafficking 1.825 kg of heroin from Laos into Vietnam.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), in cooperation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, held a meeting in Phan Thiet City, southern Binh Thuan province in response to World Environment Day (June 5), themed “Melting Ice – A hot topic”.

The General Department of Vocational Training under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) held a seminar in Hanoi on June 1 to discuss the implementation of the Prime Minister’s instructions on raising the proportion of skilled workers to 50 percent by 2010.

Hung Yen is Vietnam's 14th province hit by bird flu, the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced on June 1.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued regulations regarding the responsibilities of both domestic and foreign organisations and individuals in Vietnam in the event of earthquakes and tsunamis.

More than 400 people with disabilities from Vietnam, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Philippines will join in an exchange programme in Hanoi from June 8-11, announced the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs at a press conference held in Hanoi on June 1.

Bird flu has hit 13 cities and provinces with new outbreaks recorded in the central Quang Nam province, according to the Veterinary Department on June 1.

In response to International Children’s Day (June 1) and the action month for children, localities across the country have organized a number of activities for children, including giving presents and awarding scholarships.

Minister of Public Health Tran Thi Trung Chien, the Head of the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control on May 31 ordered all local committees to guide the supervision of rural farms and farming households in order to clamp down on possible bird flu and flu type A (H5N1) outbreaks and transmissions.

“Smoke-free environments” is the theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day (May 31). Every year in Vietnam, between 30,000 and 40,000 people die of tobacco-related diseases. Everybody knows about the serious consequences of smoking, but not everybody is ready to quit smoking.

Bird flu has hit 12 provinces and cities, with new outbreaks reported in the northern provinces of Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc, according to a report released by the Veterinary Department on May 30.

More than 700,000 people have signed the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/AOVN, to support Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims’ lawsuit against US chemical producers that churned out toxic chemicals for the US army during the war in Vietnam.

Buddhist monks, nuns and followers in the northern province of Vinh Phuc have been decorating all 443 pagodas in the province with banners and flowers to welcome visitors on the occasion of the 2,551st birthday of Lord Buddha (according to the Buddhist calendar).

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phat has sent an urgent message to the country's poultry industry, saying that all water fowl must either be immediately vaccinated or culled.

Children between six and 36 months old and young mothers will be provided with vitamin A and iron pills during the nationwide Micro-nutrition Day Campaign on June 1-2.