Stimulus package for tourism sector

LookAtVietnam – Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has been implementing the stimulus package “Impressive Vietnam” to attract more tourists to the country.  Under this programme, tourists will enjoy a 30-50 percent discount for tours nationwide.
Positive signs
There have been positive signs for the tourism sector this year during the Lunar New Year festival. Vietnam [...]

New trivia show pumps up locals for 1000-year anniversary

LookAtVietnam – Director Nguyen Huu Phan will launch his new production, a reality game show called Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the foundation of Thang Long-Ha Noi in 2010.

Gate keepers: A scene of the O Quan Chuong gate in the old quarter of Ha Noi. A reality game show called [...]

New prospects for long-term cooperation with Qatar, Kuwait

LookAtVietnam – PM Nguyen Tan Dung returned to Hanoi on March 12, concluding his first official visits to Qatar and Kuwait. The trip not only strengthened the friendship between Vietnam and the two Gulf nations but also laid a firm foundation for increasing bilateral cooperation in investment, trade, energy, food and labour.
Qatar and Kuwait have [...]

U.S. senators call for reconsideration of Hill for Iraq ambassador

Two U.S. senators on Thursday asked President Barack Obama to reconsider his choice of veteran diplomat Christopher Hill as American ambassador to Iraq, saying the future U.S envoy should be more familiar with the Middle East and anti-terrorism affairs.

Christopher Hill talks to reporters in Beijing, December 9, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

“The next ambassador should have experience in [...]

Grim warning for local banking sector

A customer completes a transaction at an Asia Commercial Bank branch in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1

With lending activities expected to generate less profit and bad debt tipped to rise, the local banking sector is facing a testing time this year, experts and bankers say.

Vietnam’s credit growth in 2008 was 22 [...]

Vietnamese athletics officials say not enough money for training

Sports officials are concerned there is not enough government funding for Vietnamese athletes who will compete in the region’s two main sporting events in 2009.

Athletics Department Manager Duong Duc Thuy said the national sporting body planned to send athletes abroad for training and competition at international tournaments but the funding was too tight to ensure [...]

PM calls for stronger welfare program to fight crisis

Teachers and students at a makeshift classroom in the village of Muong Ly, considered one of the poorest villages in Muong Lat District, Thanh Hoa Province.

The social welfares ministry should beef up its social welfare programs in preparation for the economic difficulties that the nation will have to face next year, Prime Minister Nguyen [...]

For some, progress brings TV but no clinic

Chut children in Rao Tre village of Ha Tinh Province. They no longer live in caves like their forefathers and can get state assistance to go to school.

In Vietnam’s central mountainous regions in 1959, the Chut minority lived in caves. Now they have stilt houses and farmland to cultivate.

The Chut village of [...]

Models to vie for biennial award tonight

The topic of who will take the modeling crown has heated up considerably as the Vietnam Model Award 2008 (VMA) contest draws near.

The second leg of the final round, to be held tonight in Ho Chi Minh City, will have 28 female and male models contending for the title.

The audience will have a say in [...]

Gloomy news for clothing exporters

A clothing store in Ho Chi Minh City Thursday.

Vietnam’s garment firms urged to look to Russia and Japan as competition is expected to heat up in the US, where a recession has already slowed consumer spending.

Vietnamese textile and garment exporters need to prepare themselves for fiercer competition from Chinese exporters next year, [...]