All 12th graders will begin sitting their graduation exams on May 30. The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) will mobilise nearly 6,000 inspectors to work at all exam councils across the country to prevent negative phenomena and ensure its success.

Fresh bird flu outbreaks have been detected in Bac Giang province and Hai Phong city, bringing the total number of the epidemic-affected localities to eight, according to the Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on May 25.

The Prime Minister on May 24 asked localities and relevant ministries to deploy measures to prevent any outbreak of bird flu and flu caused by the H5N1 virus in humans.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged US$53.2 million in preferential loans to provide clean drinking water for over 150,000 people living in Vietnam’s central region.

According to recent medical statistics, 56 percent of men and 1.8 percent of women in Vietnam are smokers.

Lao State and Party leader Choummaly Sayasone applauded the cooperation and mutual assistance between women of Laos and Vietnam while receiving a delegation from the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU), led by its president Ha Thi Khiet, in Vientiane on May 24.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Pham The Duyet sent a letter to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on May 24 underlining the important role of Buddhism in the Vietnamese society on the occasion of Buddha’s 2551st birthday.

The Ministry of Post and Telematics (MoPT) will provide 79 communes with public telecom services from now until 2010.

Ethnic Chinese must be afforded equal status in society and their cultural heritage must be preserved, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on May 24 to review government policies on improving lives of 1 million-strong ethnic Chinese in the country.

An international seminar opened in Hanoi on May 24 to discuss the role of community-based vocational training centres in human resource development and poverty reduction.

An international exhibition on telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology, TBI Vietnam 2007, is being held at the Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Centre from May 24-27.

The electronics company Samsung Vina will launch a walk on June 3 to raise funds for poor and studious children in Vietnam.

Vietnam is on track to eliminate the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2010 as it implements its national strategy on the disease, said Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Nguyen Tat Thanh.

A labour team from the US Department of State held a dialogue with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) in Hanoi on May 23.

The labour unions of Vietnam and Laos have discussed ways to increase their cooperation.

The Vietnam Association of the Elderly held a press briefing to launch the Fund for Vietnamese Elderly in Hanoi on May 24 with its Vice President Cao Si Kiem in the chair.

Vietnam has joined eight out of 12 International Conventions and Protocols on counter-terrorism, says Chief representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vietnam Narumi Yamada.

Nearly 250 Vietnamese and foreigners will take part in a charity programme in Ho Chi Minh City on May 26 to raise funds for children needing surgery for facial deformities.

One reason for the sudden recurrence of bird flu this summer is that localities have not carried out vaccination programmes properly and local people are subjective in methods of prevention.

The Government will grant US$1 billion in loans to assist a vocational training project for young people in the 2007-2010 period, according to Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Huynh Thi Nhan.

Donors of the "Vietnam Veteran Memorial Fund" (VVMF) had a working session with the Vietnam Veterans Association (VVA) in Hanoi on May 22.

The Vietnam Society of Congenital Bleeding Disorders made its debut in Hanoi on May 22 with the aim of promoting medicinal research, prompt diagnosis and medical treatment for those afflicted with haemophilia.

Bird flu has reared its ugly head again in Vietnam, with fresh outbreaks being discovered in four provinces since May 16, according to the Veterinary Department.

An international symposium on biological diversity and climate change was held in Hanoi on May 22 to celebrate the International Biodiversity Day.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet attended the “Festival for Handicapped and Disadvantaged Children” held in Hanoi’s Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature) on May 22 by Nhi Dong (Children) newspaper and PLAN International to celebrate the International Children’s Day (June 1).

Germany 's Europe Indochina Institute of Tourism (EIT) and Sao Viet computer and Language Training Centre will establish a variety of new hospitality and tourism training courses in HCM City.

Granma newspaper, a press agency of the Cuban Communist Party, issued an article about the 12th National Assembly election in Vietnam in its May 21 edition.

Losses during last year’s rainy season should be considered as living lessons for this year’s efforts to prevent and control floods and storms. Those acting irresponsibly and cause the loss of lives and property will be severely punished according to the Prime Minister’s decision.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has urged relevant agencies, armed forces and people to raise alert and be prepared to cope with natural disasters this year.

The Smile for Children organization under the Semin Facial Deformation Help Community, in coordination with the Seoul National University’s Bundang hospital and SK Telecom, will provide free operations on harelip and cleft palate children in Nghe An Pediatric Hospital from May 26 to June 3.