VIETNAM TODAY

More than 300 artists from 11 troupes from Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan have registered to take part in the 3rd Vietnam International Choir Competition in Hoi An City on June 20-21.

Vietnamese and French doctors, scientists and experts gathered in Hanoi on May 13 to attend a Vietnam-France Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The State Bank of Vietnam has cut key interest rates by 1 percent, applicable since May 13.

Taiwan has issued an ultimatum to the Philippines to make an official apology to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman who died in a fatal shooting by the Philippine Coast Guard in waters off the northern Philippines or pay

Lesbian and gays in Vietnam are not threatened by strangers on the streets but from their very own families, an expert said.

Many primary schools in HCM City are still facing various difficulties in applying the new national English training programme due to teacher and funding shortfalls.

Many people in Duong Lam village complained that the preservation of the village meant their families had to live in cramped quarters.

The Prime Minister has approved a master plan for the building of an extensive drainage and waste water treatment system in residential areas and industrial parks in the Nhue-Day river basin by 2030.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay an official visit to Russia at the invitation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev from May 12-15.

Lac Hong University’s team has overcome 29 other teams to reap all the three top prizes at the final round of Robocon Vietnam 2013.

North Korea has replaced the hardline general who headed its armed forces ministry, in a further reshuffling of the top brass by young leader Kim Jong-un.

The approval of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights would not affect wider society, but could ensure human rights for these people, said a local expert.

The Prime Minister has given the green light to a US$27-billion oil refinery project to be invested by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand in Binh Dinh province, announced a provincial leader.

Vietnam joined nine other Asian countries and territories at the Asian Cultural Heritage Festival in Stony Brook City, New York, on May 11.

Some 800,000 people will require food aid in Niger in the coming months despite a good harvest last year due to problems supplying cereals to markets, which have pushed up prices, and an influx of Malian refugees, the United

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on May 12 for official visits to Russian Federation from May 12-15 and the Republic of Belarus from May 15-17.

Vietnam and China reached a broad consensus on promoting the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between the two countries at a joint meeting in Beijing on May 11.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif claimed victory for his party in Pakistan's presidential election on Saturday. He said he hoped for a majority to avoid a coalition.

A “Safe Walking” campaign was launched in Ho Chi Minh City on May 11 in response to the second United Nations Global Road Safety Week.