Vietnam’s marine-based economy, if developed well, has the potential to become a major earner for the country. In recognition of this, the government has drawn up a maritime strategy from now until 2020.

President Ho Chi Minh, known as Uncle Ho, created, educated and trained the Vietnam People’s Army. He defined that to wipe out the foreign aggressors and wrest back national independence and freedom, besides political struggle, we must defeat the enemies in the military field. Therefore, the armed forces were indispensable.

Vietnam is beginning to integrate into the world economy and new enterprises and industrial parks have created a huge demand for highly qualified workers. So, why is it difficult for young people in rural areas to find a job?

As Vietnam is integrating deeply into the world economy, it must accelerate agricultural mechanisation to support the process of industrialisation and modernisation in rural areas. However, such mechanisation is slow going.

The Vietnamese retailers market is developing dramatically but retailers are facing shortages of` retail business space while rents for retail business space remain high.

US ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak met foreign and Vietnamese reporters on December 11 regarding the arrest of some Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform Party) members who had US citizenship. Their arrest with evidence of violating Vietnamese law has been of concern to the world public.

The attraction of a huge volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) is Vietnam’s most impressive achievement in 2007, showing that business circles and the international community have confidence in the Doi Moi (Renewal) process pursued by the State and people of Vietnam.

Vietnam has achieved a high and steady economic growth since it joined the World Trade Organisation a year ago. However, entry requires the country to have a technical infrastructure that can ensure sustainable development.

One year after Vietnam entered the World Trade Organisation (WTO), both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs have expressed their optimism about remarkable improvements in the investment environment in the country in the next three years.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, a member of the reactionary Viet Tan exile group has been arrested by Vietnamese security forces. The arrest was a necessary act to ensure political stability and public safety.