President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Pham The Duyet on February 6 received Hanoi’s Archbishop, Ngo Quang Kiet, who came to extend his greetings on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year.

Academic Prof. Dao Trong Thi, Director of Hanoi National University, has been awarded France's "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite" (Knight of the National Order of Merit) for his contributions to the cooperation in higher education, scientific research and culture between Vietnam and France.

The Da Nang City Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (AVA) has encouraged many domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to donate and present gifts to Agent Orange victims on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Vietnamese and Norwegian legal experts shared experiences in criminology and criminal law at a seminar held in Hanoi on February 5.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on February 5 began selling e-tickets for several of its domestic routes, making it more convenient for its customers.

State Vice President Truong My Hoa on February 5 received representatives of the Shanghai Raas group led by President of the Executive Board Huang Qiao.

A documentary titled "The Last Ghost of War" showing Vietnamese Agent Orange victims' lawsuit against American chemical producers is scheduled to be screened in the US in late February.

A meeting was held in Ha Long city, northeastern Quang Ninh province to mark the World Wetland Day (WWD) 2007 on February 2 under the theme "Wetlands and Fisheries".

The World Bank (WB) will provide Vietnam with a non-profit credit of more than US$4 billion to support its development and poverty efforts for the next five years.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung: The opening of Thanh Tri bridge is an event of great significance on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The bridge is very important as it not only improves traffic flow, but also helps facilitate the urbanisation of Hanoi and socio-economic development in northern provinces.

State Vice President Truong My Hoa on January 1 visited northern Yen Bai province and presented gifts to 20 families of flash flood victims in 2005 in Cat Thinh commune, Van Chan District, on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

The central province of Quang Nam has approved a US$6 million project to build a state-of-the-art water plant with a capacity of 21,000 cu.m per day to supply water to the ancient town of Hoi An.

Counterfeit drugs have recently infiltrated several hospitals at the central level. One reason is that functional agencies have failed to take effective measures for preventing this phenomenon. Furthermore, Vietnam’s laws still have many loopholes so that criminals can evade prosecution for their violations.

A respiration centre will be built in central Thua Thien-Hue province in commemoration of late Italian doctor Carlo Urbani, who sacrificed his life for the prevention and control of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Vietnam in 2003.

Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) launched a writing contest on efficient use of electricity, in Hanoi on February 1, 2007. The contest will be held on a monthly basis.

There is no denying that the Government’s socio-economic development programmes have brought a facelift to far-flung areas inhabited by ethnic groups. However, the household poverty rate remains high and the fight against poverty needs a boost.

The police and armed forces will work together to discover and stop hostile activities which attempt to sabotage national political stability and socio-economic development.

Vietnam will intensify cooperation with foreign partners, especially with those countries sharing borderlines, in the fight against drug crime.

Security officials from Vietnam and Laos have gathered in central Lao province of Savannakhet for a conference to review cooperation measures for reinforcing security regulations along the two countries’ common border.

The Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) has announced the VEF Visiting Scholar Programme 2007-2008 for Vietnamese nationals who already hold a doctorate in the field of science, technology, engineering, or math at the leading US academic institutions.

Young Vietnamese have become better aware of information relating to sexual and reproductive health.

Vietnamese universities have granted honourable doctor certificates to two Cambodian leaders in acknowledgement of their contributions to the development of their country’s education and economic sectors, as well as to the tightening of Vietnam-Cambodia ties.

The Boeing Company and the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) inaugurated a primary school in Hoi Ninh commune, northern Ninh Binh province, on January 30.

According to the Government’s Special Mission Group, as many as 21,975 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia and Laos have been repatriated so far. Of the number total, 1,656 sets have been identified.

Apart from protecting the country’s territorial waters and continental shelf, the Vietnam People's Navy has actively taken part in developing the national economy, said Rear Admiral Nguyen Van Tinh, Political Commissar of the Vietnam People's Navy, in an interview grated to Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

Vietnam is seeking international support to improve its human resources training quality, said Minister of Education and Training, Nguyen Thien Nhan, at the ministry's annual dialogue with international partners in Hanoi on January 29.

After Tra Vinh, Kien Giang is the second province in the Mekong Delta declared as free from avian flu. By January 29, 20 communes of 14 districts in 6 Mekong Delta provinces, namely Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Vinh Long, Soc Trang and Can Tho were still affected by bird flu.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, who is also Vice Chairman of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption, on January 29 called on inspectors to take initiative in the fight against corruption and other social evils.

An American family has channelled US$50,000 through the US Fund for Reconciliation and Development to help Agent Orange (AO) victims in Vietnam.

Since the first outbreak of bird flu has detected in the southern province of Bac Lieu on December 18, 2006, the province has reported new outbreaks every day. Bac Lieu has seen up to 14 new outbreaks a day. Although no new outbreaks of bird flu have been discovered in An Giang, to strictly control bird flu, provincial authorities still disciplined several communal officers for neglect of their duty.