Nearly 80 red-headed cranes, which are listed as an endangered species in the world's Red Book, have been sighted in the Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta Dong Thap province.

Overseas Vietnamese in France organized a seminar in Paris this week to discuss specific ways to help Agent Orange/dioxin (AO) victims in Vietnam.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) on March 1 conferred an insignia "For the Cause of Developing Trade Union" on Dr. Felix Schmidt of the German Friedrich Ebert Institute (FES) Vietnam in recognition of his contribution to Vietnam's trade union.

Bird flu has recurred in the Mekong Delta after over a month of being contained in the region, according to the Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Chairman Cao Duc Phat of the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control has asked ministries, sectors and localities to take urgent measures for preventing a possible bird flu recurrence.

Farmers can resume their poultry production as the ban on hatching waterfowl will be removed on March 1, announced Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat on February 27.

It is essential to complete policies and laws on natural resources and environment as soon as possible and combine zoning plans with people’s interests, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a conference in Hanoi on February 27 to review the State management of natural resources and environment.

The training centre on intellectual property (IP) was inaugurated in Hanoi on February 27. The centre is a joint effort between the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) and the EC-ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Co-operation Programme (ECAP II) in improving NOIP officials’ and other Vietnamese stake-holders’ knowledge of IP.

The State will continue to play a key role of investment in healthcare activities for people, especially for the poor by providing financial support and high-quality services while controlling healthcare services, said Minister of Health Tran Thi Trung Chien.

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union launched a “Youth Month” for 2007 in Hanoi on February 27 under the theme “Vietnamese youths study and follow Uncle Ho’s teachings.”

The Prime Minister has approved a master plan for healthcare development until 2010 and a vision for 2020, including 37 projects from the Ministry of Health.

A Swiss charitable organisation will grant VND600-700 million for surgical operations on more than 150 disabled people in central Quang Tri province in 2007 to help them integrate into the community.

The Central Highlands region in 2007 will mobilise all resources, including foreign investment, for socio-economic development, with priority being given to power, transport and irrigation projects, said Public Security Le Hong Anh, who is also director of the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) Steering Committee.

Vietnam has been ranked first among 10 countries and territories worldwide in terms of population to be impacted by sea level rise as a result of global warming.

The Investigation Police of central Thua Thien-Hue province on February 24 decided to take legal proceedings against Nguyen Van Ly who resides at No. 69 Phan Dinh Phung St., Vinh Ninh ward, Hue City, on charge of propagandising against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam according to Point C, Item 1, Article 88 of the Penal Code.

Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem has presented two overseas Vietnamese in Brazil with a certificate of merit for their contributions to activities of the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese representative agencies there.

Leaders of Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and authorities of Chuong My district, Ha Tay province on February 23 visited Tram pagoda, where late President Ho Chi Minh read his New Year poem on air 60 years ago.

According to the National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA), around 150,000 overseas Vietnamese returned home to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet), bringing the total number of overseas Vietnamese returning home in 2006 to 670,000.

Sapa - an attractive destination is implementing an overall and detailed planning project for a 700 ha-tourism site to ensure both traditional and modern architectural characteristics in harmony with the natural landscape in the hope of turning it into a world famous tourist resort.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs (CSA) Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu is attending the Asian Parliamentarians’ 23rd meeting on population and development in Japan.

On the first working day of the lunar New Year (February 22), To Huy Rua, Secretary of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and head of the PCC Commission for Culture and Ideology, visited Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

Positive changes have taken place in the Truong Sa island district of Central Khanh Hoa province. The material and spiritual lives of local people and border-guards have been improved significantly over the last 30 years.

Vietnamese communities in many countries have held get-togethers to welcome the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

If the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho can preserve the landscape ecology of its rivers and canals while it continues to develop for the future, it will become a very attractive tourist destination with floating markets, river wharfs and ferries that are second to none in the region.

For Vietnamese people, the traditional Lunar New Year Festival (Tet) is the biggest of the year as it marks the start of a busy new year. For foreigners who have been living in Vietnam for years or those who have just arrived have their earnest desire to enjoy the Tet atmosphere together with local people. Let’s explore their plans with VOVNews reporters.

In the past, ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands did not hold the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival at the beginning of the year as the Kinh majorities did. They celebrated the New Year and other festivals only after harvest when their rice baskets were full. That is why the grave-leaving ceremony was not held in a certain day or month, but only after a harvest.

I was born and grew up in central Vietnam and only knew about Hanoi through books and newspapers. So, I was so happy to live and work in Hanoi immediately after the revolutionary government took over the capital. Hanoi was very peaceful in that autumn and winter.

The initiatives of scientists have not only contributed to developing the country’s agriculture sector but also to affirming the Vietnamese people’s intelligence, industriousness and creativity.

Together with those in the homeland, many Vietnamese living overseas, including those in France are preparing to welcome the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet) which is of great significance to every Vietnamese.

French politicians and intellectuals showed their interest in Vietnam at a talk on the country held on February 13 by the Paris-based Institute for European-Asian-American Relations, a non-profitable organisation studying affairs of regional countries.