Experts said that the one-tone shark netted by a Phu Yen province’s fisherman is not the cruel fish that attacked ten people in Quy Nhon.

Phan Trong Ho, director of the Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, confirmed that, based on its weight, character and the bites, the recently caught shark is not the predator sought by Binh Dinh residents. 

Senior fishermen also claimed that a one-tone shark can swallow a man whole, not just his legs. 

Dr. Vo Si Tuan, director of the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, said that the seized shark belongs to the black shark species.  

A trader in Phu Yen province bought the shark (without its fins) at the price of 30 million dong and chopped it down to sell. 

In mid-January, a number of people were hospitalized with serious injuries. The Nha Trang Institute for Oceanography confirmed that these injuries were caused by a shark, but they couldn’t specify the species. 

Quy Nhon authorities have offered a cash prize of 10 million dong to anyone who can catch the shark. This is the first shark netted since that day.

Source: VietnamNet

Andre Menras, a retired French teacher, is honored to be the first foreign man granted Vietnamese nationality in November 2009, with a Vietnamese name Ho Cuong Quyet.

July 25 1970 was a landmark in Andre Menras’ life. Menras and his friend Jean Pierre Debris went to Saigon in 1970 under the “French Red Youth International Cooperation Mission.” He climbed the statue of a US marine in Saigon in front of the Lower House of the Saigon government (HCM City Opera House at present) to wave the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF), and distributed 6000 leaflets against the Vietnam War.

Menras and his friend were arrested for these activities. He was sentenced to three years in prison, while his comrade was sentenced to four.

Waves of demonstrations against their imprisonment ensued, but the Saigon government did not budge an inch and the duo served their full sentences. Although hard and brutal, the years in prison did not pass by fruitlessly for the young man, a former French teacher at Saigon’s Jean Jacque Rousseau School. He learned Vietnamese from other prisoners and they gave him a Vietnamese name, Ho Cuong Quyet (Ho standing for Ho Chi Minh and Cuong Quyet meaning determination).

In early 1973, they were released and expelled to France. Several months after, he published the book We Accuse: Back from Saigon’s Prisons in France. This book has been translated into many languages, including a Vietnamese version issued in 1974.

Almost 30 years since his hurried exit, Menras returned to Saigon in 2002 to see his friends. Since then, he has frequently shuttled between France and Vietnam, serving as chair for the French-Vietnamese Association of Education Development and Exchange.

Menras explained that, since he hails from the Beziers region in southern France that is world-renowned for its champagne, he has also teamed up with Saigontourist to open several champagne outlets. All profits are used to help poor children in Vietnam.

To honor his contributions to Vietnam, he was presented with the “For the Young Generation” medal and the “Medal for Peace and Friendship between Nations” by the Vietnamese government.

In a talk with HCM City Vice-Chair three years ago, Menras expressed his wish to become a Vietnamese citizen while keeping his French nationality. At that time, Vietnam had not approved dual nationality yet and foreigners had to give up their original nationality to gain Vietnamese citizenship.

The new Law on Nationality was ratified in July 2009 and took effect as of November 2009. President Nguyen Minh Triet knew of Menras through some of his comrades and invited Menras to meet on November 4, 2009. At that time the President promised to grant Menras Vietnamese citizenship.

Several days later, Menras saw the Vietnamese President again in a meeting with his comrades in a forest near the Vietnam-Cambodia border, the war resistance base during the Vietnam War. The President told Menras to go to the HCM City Department of Justice three days later to receive his grant of Vietnamese nationality.

On December 1 2009, Menras received the decision at a solemn ceremony, attended by President Nguyen Minh Triet. From that day, Menras was a Vietnamese citizen named Ho Cuong Quyet. He is the first foreigner to receive Vietnamese nationality under the new law.

A reporter of the L’Herault du Jour newspaper questioned Menras: “If you attend a sports game between Vietnam and France, what team does your heart beat for?”

Menras answered: “In cases when I have to make difficult choices, people often ask me: Hey Andre, are you French or Vietnamese? Like the song of Josephine Baker, I have two loves. In prison, when I heard stories of Frenchmen like Henri Martin, Madeleine Riffaud or Raymonde Dien, who fought colonialism, I really felt I’m French. When I fought against the prison wall of French colonialism, I felt I’m Vietnamese.”

He continued: “My first roots in terms of biology are western, but my Vietnamese roots grew up from revolution and struggling. These roots are very important because it is my youth. So please don’t ask me to choose that which cannot be separated. If there is a sports game, I don’t have to choose because Vietnamese people don’t play rugby!”

Source: VietnamNet

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh visited Bach Mai General Hospital in Hanoi on February 8, calling on all medical staff to raise their moral standards in order to protect people’s health and effectively follow the Party’s and State policies regarding the health sector.

Mr Manh stressed that the Party always takes the protection of people’s health seriously and considers the development of medical care as a key element of social security.

He praised the medical sector for its achievements over the past four years, during which many health workers were relocated to local establishments and clinics in remote and disadvantaged areas, thereby helping to narrow the development gap between regions.

Mr Manh also expressed his delight at the medical progress made by Bach Mai hospital in terms of diagnosis and treatment using modern technology. He said the hospital had also played an important and effective role in providing technical assistance to clinics in remote areas and helping them raise their capacity.

Regarding progress for 2010, the General Secretary asked the health sector to take the necessary measures to prevent any major epidemic from occurring, reduce overcrowding in hospitals and gradually remove the practice of sharing patient beds. He also urged the sector to develop traditional medicine networks, both state and private ones, and to expand various forms of training to meet the demand for medical personnel.

Also, Mr Manh emphasized the necessity of stabilizing medicine prices, ensuring medicine quality and devising master plans to promote the manufacturing and circulation of medicine and to develop pharmaceutical materials.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on February 7 led a government delegation to visit the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Speaking at a working session with the provincial leaders, PM Dung asked Thua Thien-Hue province to continue promoting its advantages to develop itself into a centre of culture, tourism, science and technology, health, education and training in the central region in particular and the whole country in general.

To reach this goal, Thua Thien-Hue province should better urban planning work, invest in infrastructure development and pay attention to developing areas that are its strengths such as tourism, information technology, sea-based economy, he said.

The province must focus on developing human resources as well as preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, he added.

The Prime Minister also visited and presented gifts to families who tendered great service to the nation in Nam Dong district, which is home to a large number of ethnic minority people but has the lowest poverty rate in the country.

On the same day, Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC), paid a Tet visit to the central Ha Tinh province while To Huy Rua, Politburo member and Secretary of the CPVCC visited the central province of Quang Ngai.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai also paid Tet visits to the Mekong Delta provinces of Bac Lieu and Soc Trang from February 6-7.

Source: SGGP/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked newly accredited Vietnamese ambassadors to mobilise foreign aid for national development, particularly in coping with climate change, educational cooperation and labour export.

At a meeting in Hanoi on February 5, Mr Dung said as representing Vietnam in foreign countries, the ambassadors, heads of representative diplomatic missions and general consuls should work hard to raise the country’s profile in the international arena.

He noted that Vietnam has increased its status regionally and globally, has become an ideal destination for foreign businesses, and has integrated deeper into the world economy.

The ambassadors should explore the markets in their countries of residence and proposed measures to promote trade, investment and tourism between Vietnam and these countries, said Mr Dung.

He also asked them to protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese nationals and introduce the image of Vietnam abroad.

Source: VOV

President Nguyen Minh Triet has highlighted Vietnam’s important achievements in 2009, attributing them to the strong resolve and constant efforts by all Vietnamese people, including those residing overseas.

At a Tet get-together in Hanoi on February 6, Mr Triet said that the global economic recession in 2009 took its heavy toll on many countries, including Vietnam. Thanks to the Party’s correct guidelines, the government’s remarkable performance, and efforts by businesses and people, the country has weathered the storm and showed positive signs of recovery. Its status has been elevated regionally and internationally.

Despite the global economic turmoil, he said, Vietnamese nationals abroad have strengthened unity, lived stable lives, integrated well into the local communities and contributed to the homeland.

The Party and State consider overseas Vietnamese an inseparable part of the nation and appreciate their contributions to the homeland, Mr Triet affirmed.

He said many Vietnamese intellectuals have boosted Vietnam’s profile in the country of their residence. Many of them have returned and taken part in cooperation projects in science, technology, education, culture and social affairs while lending a helping hand to their compatriots affected by natural disasters and epidemics.

He said that over the past years, work related to overseas Vietnamese has achieved encouraging results and has been welcomed by the communities worldwide. He assured the participants that the Party and State will continue to offer incentives to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to return and build the homeland.

He expressed his belief that overseas Vietnamese will continue to create an important source of strength to help the nation make greater achievements in 2010 – the last year of the five-year development plan.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Thanh Son said his ministry will work closer together with relevant agencies to live up to the overseas communities’ expectations.

About 1,000 Vietnamese nationals, including those from the US, Australia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Thailand and Laos, attended the event hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee.

Earlier the same day, they offered incense at the Thang Long Royal Citadel.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has asked newly accredited ambassadors to pay special attention to economic and cultural diplomacy, and overseas Vietnamese affairs during their working terms abroad.

At a meeting in Hanoi on February 7, Mr Manh told new ambassadors, general consuls and heads of diplomatic missions that the appointment is a ‘great honour’ and a ‘glorious task’ entrusted to them by the Party, State and people.

The ambassadors should understand and implement the Party and State’s foreign policy of self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversifying international relations, integrating into the world economy, and expanding cooperation in other areas, said Mr Manh.

He asked them to work hard and promote Vietnam as a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, which is taking an active part in regional and international cooperation.

An important task of our foreign policy is to maintain a peaceful environment, boost socio-economic development, speed up national industrialisation and modernisation, and firmly defend the nation, said Mr Manh.

He extended lunar New Year Greetings to the diplomats and wished them success during their working terms.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Ho Chi Minh City leaders visited some outstanding companies and organizations for Tet on February 6.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and a delegation of government officials visited Saigon Newport Company in Ho Chi Minh City on February 2 praising the company for its growth in manufacturing and the contribution it has made to national security.

The company has expanded its operation for 20 years with an average year-on-year increase over 25 per cent.

Elsewhere in the city, Mr. Le Hoang Quan, the city’s People’s Committee Chairman and a delegation of Ho Chi Minh City officials offered gifts to police, firemen, mobile warden and employees of VOV News for Tet.

Mr. Quan wished health to everyone, applauding the achievements this year. He asked the police force to step up patrols to make the city safe during the Tet celebrations; and asked firemen to be prepared around the clock.

In related news, the city Farmer Association and the Sponsoring Association for City Poor People and HCMCTV presented 1,305 gifts to disadvantaged farmers in several city districts. Each gift worth VND200, 000 was paid for from proceeds of the campaign “Doing good things during Tet’ to benefit poor farmers.”

Nearly 350 needy workers of Tan Thuan Industrial Park received gifts including confectionery and cash worth VND300, 000. Nguyen Tung, secretary of the park, said for Tet this year, many activities will be held to help poor workers and in the second day of the lunar calendar, the Infrastructure Company in the park will organize a meeting to give lucky money to 160 workers who have returned to their hometown for holidays.

Disadvantaged and disabled children will join festivities organized for them at Sai Gon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in District 1 and Le Thi Rieng Park in district 10.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on February 7 paid a pre-Tet visit to Nam Dong district in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, where 43 percent of its population are ethnic minorities, mostly the Co Tu.

Mr Dung praised the district Party Committee, administration and people for their efforts to overcome difficulties and make sound achievements in development, with the GDP growing at a rate of 14 percent.

He noted that asphalted roads have been built from the district centre to communes and residential areas; 99 percent of its households have been supplied with electricity and clean water, and the poverty rate has fallen to 9 percent.

He asked the district Party Committee and administration to make full use of its advantages, including land, natural resources and labour force, to develop agriculture, forestation and livestock breeding.

At the same time, the district must draw up vocational training programmes for its residents to help them get steady jobs, have stable incomes and improve their living conditions, said Mr Dung.

He agreed with local authorities’ proposal to speed up the Ho Chi Minh National Highway’s section project encompassing Nam Dong district, to facilitate local economic development.

He also supported a proposal to build a cultural-sport centre for young people in Nam Dong to improve the spiritual life in the locality.

During his stay, Mr Dung visited and presented Tet gifts to several social policy beneficiaries in the district.

The BKZ team from the Da Nang Polytechnic University passed 28 teams from 14 universities to take first prize in a landmine-disarming robot contest on January 29-30 in HCM City. 

A team from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, Heat 3, and Can Tho University’s Embot-Strike won the second and the third prizes. Five other teams won the consolation prizes.

Held by the HCM City Mechanics Association and the Technology Center for Bomb and Mine Disposa, the competition was themed an “All-terrain robot”. The mission for contestants was to design a robot that could remotely analyze terrain, move precisely and flexibly, and overcome all obstacles in moving toward bomb and mine locations. 

The contest offered young people, especially students and engineers, a chance to show off creative talents while contributing to the development of bomb-disarming technology. The organizers will fund the winning teams to perfect their products in the future. 

Bombs and landmines cover an area of around 6.6 million hectares in Vietnam, accounting for 20 percent of the total area of the country. Ordnance-disarming efforts are carried out on just 20,000 hectares per year. Experts said that it will take 300 years to clear all of Vietnam’s bombs and landmines.

Source: VietnamNet

PANO – A special set of stamps was issued to mark the 80^th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Communist Party (February 3rd, 2010), by the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication in coordination with the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Corporation (VNPT).

The stamp, 32mm x 43mm, is designed by painter Do Lenh Tuan. It has a combination of red flag and sickle in the centre, on the blue back ground which symbolises peace, and a field of sunflowers which symbolises the consensus of Vietnamese people with the Party.

Translated by Hoang Anh

Provinces and cities across the country are distributing gifts to vulnerable groups in society, including the poor, lonely seniors and victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin to help them enjoy a happy lunar New Year festival which begins on February 13.

Ngo Truong Thi, an official of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), says his ministry is making every effort to ensure that people living in poor districts designated under a government programme will have new houses before the Tet holiday.

Under the government programme to support 62 poor districts across the country, nearly 74,000 houses have been built, fulfilling 98 percent of the plan. Of the total, more than 56,000 houses have been handed over to their owners, and workers are putting the finishing touches on the remainder which will be completed by February 10.

Meanwhile, MARD Vice Minister Nguyen Trong Dam says this year the government has drawn up a programme to provide rice to the poor. Provinces and cities have submitted their lists of beneficiaries and the amount of rice needed to MOLISA. The government has instructed the Ministry of Finance to use rice from the national reserve to ensure that no poor person will go hungry during the Tet holiday and the first months of 2010.

MOLISA has made fact-finding tours of provinces and cities, especially flood-stricken localities in the Central and Central Highland regions and remote areas to come up with immediate support plans.

Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of the Government Office, says approximately 23,000 tonnes of rice will be allocated to the poor, lonely seniors and social policy beneficiaries in all provinces and cities. Chairmen of municipal and provincial People’s Committees will be responsible for rice distribution, and they will be duly punished if found guilty of irresponsibility or breaking the law.

Vice Minister Dam says, as this Tet for the poor will be hosted by localities and mostly paid for out of their budgets, the localities will have flexibility in carrying out the activity.

The Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee has earmarked nearly VND109 billion to purchase Tet gifts for social policy beneficiaries in the city. Each poor person will receive a gift worth VND200,000, each pensioner a gift worth VND100,000 and any person over the age of 100 a gift worth VND600,000. The city has established four inspection teams to oversee the gift distribution.

In the central city of Da Nang, each household operating rickshaws for a living will be given VND200,000 and each poor household will receive VND200,000-300,000. Every poor individual will also receive 15kg of rice. Lists of beneficiaries and allowances will be made public.

The Red Cross and the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho will distribute more than 3,000 Tet gifts valued at VND400 million to the poor and AO victims in its 9 districts. They are encouraging businesses and other donors to provide additional assistance to the victims.

In HCM City, 2,777 households which earn less than VND6 million a year will receive VND500,000 each. In addition, 28,000 seniors over 85 and nearly 15,000 policy beneficiaries will enjoy allowances worth VND400,000 each.   

Source: VOV

Vietnam is making every effort to improve its investment environment and finalise its legal system to attract more foreign investors, including those from the Czech Republic, says President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The State President made the statement at a reception in Hanoi on February 4 for Karel Pleva, Chairman and CEO of the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) of the Czech Republic.

Mr Triet praised EGAP for its efficient operation in Vietnam and hoped that its successful projects would lure more Czech businesses to Vietnam.

Coming to our country, Czech businesses are welcomed as not only investors but also friends of Vietnamese people, said Mr Triet.

He affirmed that both Vietnam and the Czech Republic have treasured the long-standing friendship, saying the former Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) provided its heart-felt support to Vietnamese people in their past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national development.

Vietnam wants to increase comprehensive cooperation with this European Union member, especially in economics, trade and investment, said Mr Triet.

CEO Pleva briefed Mr Triet on a number of projects that EGAP has guaranteed in Vietnam, including Phu Son Cement Plant, Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway and Quang Binh Clay Production Plant. He assured Mr Triet that his corporation is interested in cooperation projects between the two countries and will do its best to make these projects efficient.

Source: VOV

PANO – A delegation from Eastern and Southwestern region provincial members and officers of Navy Region No. 5 has visited and wished a happy Tet to officers, soldiers and civilians on the Hon Chuoi Island.

The delegation presented to the islanders various regional specialties, such as pork-pie, fermented sticky rice and braised fish.

After that, both the visitors and islanders prepared dishes together, especially wrapping chung cakes.

In addition, the islanders performed several musical programmes for their visitors, who, in turn, sang and danced with the islanders.

Translated by Mai Huong

The United States wishes to deepen ties with Vietnam, US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak told reporters in Hanoi on February 3.

The two countries will join hands to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties this year, he said, adding that he believes in the future development of the cooperation between the two countries.

At the new year press briefing, Ambassador Michalak expressed his pleasure with the two countries’ relations over the last year.

Vietnam and the US exchanged visits of high-ranking delegations in 2009 and the US has now become Vietnam’s largest investor last year.

He highly valued the investment climate in Vietnam, saying that the US will continue assist the Southeast Asian country in pushing through administrative reform and improving the investment environment, and will continue negotiations with Vietnam for the signing of a bilateral investment agreement this year.

The US plans to discuss a trans-Pacific partnership agreement with Vietnam and several other countries, conduct other activities for mutual benefit and help Vietnam further integrate into the global economy, he added.

Regarding educational field, Ambassador Michalak stressed the number of Vietnamese students studying in the US soared in 2009, tripling that of the three previous years. He said the US expects to set up an education consultancy centre and a university in Vietnam in order to strengthen bilateral ties in education.

Source: VNA/VOVNews

Over the past 80 years of national construction and development, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has led the Vietnamese people to great victories in the homeland and in the international arena.

Over the past 80 years, the Vietnamese people have met every challenge, scoring one victory after another and gaining the recognition of the international community.

Professor Guyuan Yang, Former Director of the Centre for Political Research and the World Economy under the Chinese Institute of Science and Society has attributed Vietnam’s success to the CPV’s clear-sighted leadership.

VOV: This year Vietnam has celebrated the 80th anniversary of the CPV. Looking back on the past, what is your assessment of the CPV’s leadership role and contributions to the process of national construction and protection, especially during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process?

Professor Yang: After 80 years of construction and growth, Vietnam has reached its goal of gaining independence and democracy and is advancing steadily towards socialism. The CPV has led the Vietnamese people to such glorious victories as the successful August 1945 Revolution, the successful resistance wars against the French and US invaders, and total liberation of southern Vietnam to achieve national unification.

At the sixth National Party Congress in 1986, Vietnam began a comprehensive renewal process to integrate into the regional and world economies. Vietnam has now become an important member of the international community with some internationally recognized achievements. Vietnam’s economic growth rate ranks second in Asia. From being a food importer, Vietnam has become one of the world’s largest rice exporters. These achievements are due to the CPV’s leadership and valuable support from the Vietnamese people and other working people all over the world.

VOV: What do you think of Vietnamese Party building in recent years?

Professor Yang: The CPV has made great progress in promoting democracy in the Party and in society. In recent years, I have visited Vietnam many times and learnt that the question-and-answer sessions of the Government and National Assembly  are often broadcast live on television and radio, to let listeners follow and evaluate the proceedings. This shows that Vietnam has made significant progress in improving the political system. I know that at the upcoming congress the CPV will devise measures to further expand democracy in the Party and to renovate and consolidate the whole political system.

Everyone in China is very pleased at Vietnam’s achievements in the renewal process over the past 20 years.

VOV: What’s your opinion on Vietnam’s efforts to fight corruption?

Mr Yang: This is not a new issue. Through their history, the Communist Parties of Vietnam and China have been concerned about this issue. Even when carrying out reform and renovation, the two countries have seen corruption, causing dissatisfaction among their citizens. Realising the danger corruption poses to the Party’s prestige and survival, the two Parities have implemented a series of strict measures to fight corruption.

I think the two Parties should continue to exchange experiences in anti-corruption, political reform, and promoting democracy. The Communist Parties of China and Vietnam are taking on some heavy tasks. In the early 90s, the world socialist movement suffered a serious setback. Whether socialism can go from these crises to boom times again depends on the Party’s leadership skills.

VOV: Thank you very much.

Source: VOV

A record number of 1,000 banh chung (square sticky rice) cakes will be wrapped and boiled in one big pot this week and delivered directly to underprivileged children on the occasion of the Lunar New Year festival.

Recipients will include children in orphanages and centres for handicapped children and children infected with HIV/AIDS or suffering from other serious diseases.

The record-setting banh chung cake pot is part of the Merciful Tet programme to be held in Hanoi from February 5-7 with the support from non-governmental organisations in Vietnam, the Hanoi Society for Preventing and Combating HIV/AIDS and a number of foreign embassies in Vietnam.

The organisers expect that the programme will become an annual event for children nationwide.

Source: VNA