VIETNAM TODAY

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 23signed decision No 65/NP-CP, turning Cam Ranh Town into a city, which is in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

With 34 golds, 16 silvers and 14 bronzes, the Vietnamese team ranked fourth at the 15 th Asian University Games (AUG).

The southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City is estimated to receive 3.1 million foreign arrivals in 2010, a year-on-year increase of 20%.

The ADB and Government of Vietnam today signed loan agreements for small and medium enterprises.

Agent Orange victim Nguyen Thi Ly is struggling with the toxic chemical in her body but dreams of a normal life.

Many mammoth foreign direct investment projects had their investment licenses revoked in 2010.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked provincial governments to rethink small and medium hydropower projects with low cost-effectiveness.

The Deputy PM wished all bishops, priests, monks and all Catholics in the Archdiocese a Merry Christmas.

The telecom sector is expected to earn revenue of 200 trillion VND (10 billion USD) in 2010.

State-owned Vietnam Airlines said December 23 that it expects pre-tax profit of VND350 billion ($18 million) this year, up from VND154 billion last year.

Pope Benedict XVI says that God is faithful to his promises but often surprises us by how he fulfils them.

Don village was dubbed the “elephant kingdom” in the Central Highlands for its tradition of taming wild elephants and also worshipping them.

Russia was due Friday to give initial approval to a historic nuclear arms pact with the US that opens the way for the former Cold War foes' cooperation.

The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group will postpone the official inauguration of its US$3 billion Dung Quat Oil Refinery by two weeks to January 6.

Although Vietnam businesses have taken the initiative to seek cooperation opportunities with Russian partners, no national level projects have been formed between the two sides.

Vietnam regretted that the Swedish Government will close its embassy in Vietnam in 2011and pledged to create favourable conditions for it to re-open the embassy.

South Korea's military Thursday held a live-fire drill involving tanks, artillery and jet fighters, in a major show of strength.

With Nguyen Hue Street in downtown HCM City set to host festivities, only people living in the vicinity can drive their vehicles on certain roads on New Year’s Eve.

Street children and those at high risk of becoming street children in 10 provinces and cities have received timely assistance.