Antique street in Hue city

17:17' 17/07/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – In recent years, the section of Tran Hung Dao road along the Huong River has been turned into an antique street where all sorts of ancient objects are displayed on the pavement. These products range from ancient coins engraved with Han letters and pottery dating from Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties to old-style personal accessories like combs and hats. Most of the objects offered for sale here were accidentally found on the Huong River by local refuse collectors. These refuse collectors have gradually become professional sellers. They often sell things right after they find them. As for items that look particularly beautiful, they may keep them until somebody offers a high price for them. They also sell them to the various owners of antique stands on Tran Hung Dao road. In turn, these owners may keep valuable items for themselves or sell them to professional antique collectors. But it is tourists that are their biggest customers. Many of the objects offered on Tran Hung Dao road, however, aren’t in their original conditions due to primitive collection tools and processes. Ancient sellers on Tran Hung Dao road don’t just sell things. They’re willing to spend hours talking with tourists interested in antiques. And it doesn’t matter if after much talking and bargaining, customers don’t buy any. Mr. Thanh, who owns an antique stand on the Tran Hung Dao pavement, said while showing a handful of business cards: “These are all from customers but none of them bought anything. But since they are really passionate about antiques, I’m perfectly content.” Hue is well known for its coffee, mussel rice street, and drinking streets. But there hasn’t been any antique street. So, many say it’s time that the old imperial city should have one. Phuong Trang- Viet Nam Net

28 golf course projects being implemented in Vietnam

11:30' 17/07/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge - Many large projects are currently developing in the fields of building tourist sites, recreation areas, especially golf courses in Vietnam. At present, 14 golf courses are operating and 28 projects are being carried out nationwide. Both foreign and domestic investors are focusing on the development of the golf course system. This tourism type benefits enterprises and the Vietnam tourism sector economic interest and meets the increasing demand of tourists. Ha Tay is now in the process of clearing away premises to build the Van Son golf course capitalized with 350 billion VND on an area of 192 hectares. Over the past time, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the nation attracted 17 foreign-invested projects in the tourism field in the first six months, with a registered capital of more than 776 million USD. With the increasing investment capital in this field, Vietnam tourism will surely become prosperous in the upcoming time. (Source: CPV, Viet Nam Net)

CPV General Secretary receives Lao delegation

09:32' 17/07/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam will continue to adhere to a longstanding foreign policy of fostering ties with Laos. Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) General Secretary Nong Duc Manh made the comment on July 16 while receiving Bounyang Vorachith, Member of the Political Bureau and Permanent Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee, of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP). Vorachith, who also doubles as Vice State President, is leading a senior LPRP delegation on a visit to Vietnam to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty and the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Party General Secretary said that the coordination between the two countries in organising the celebrations exemplified the relationship in general and hoped that the festivities would broaden the relationship between the two nation's publics and in particular the youth of the two neighbours. “These festivities will strengthen the friendship, solidarity and cooperation that Vietnam and Laos share,” he said. His comments were echoed by his Lao guest as Vorachith pledged that his Party, State and people were eager to get to work on building a closer partnership between the ASEAN member states. Recognising the importance of the anniversaries, General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, State President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong cabled congratulatory messages to their Lao counterparts, Chummaly Xaynhason, LPRK General Secretary and State President, Hongsing Thammavong, National Assembly Chairman, and Buason Buphavan, Prime Minister, of Laos. (Source: VNA, Viet Nam Net)

US, Vietnam five years on from BTA

08:34' 18/07/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge - The US Deputy Chief of Mission in Vietnam , Jonathan Aloisi, has said that the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) has proved to be helpful for rapid economic growth in Vietnam . Citigroup, a US investor in Vietnam Speaking at a seminar to assess the five-year impact of the agreement on Vietnam's trade, investment and economy in Ha Noi on July 17, Aloisi said that the BTA has not only stimulated trade between the two countries but also created favourable conditions for Southeast Asia's second fastest economy to attract greater flows of foreign investment. Reports presented by experts at the seminar pointed to Vietnam's exports to the US as surging 8 fold within five years as hugely positive signs for the country's economy. By the end of 2006, US direct investment into Vietnam hit the 4.5 billion USD mark, placing it sixth on the list of 75 countries and territories that are investing in the budding Asian tiger. According to Steve Parker, senior economist from the Support for Trade Acceleration (STAR-Vietnam) project, the BTA has created opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to expand trade and investment relations with the US market and conditions for Vietnam to develop the production of traditional goods that retain a high competitive edge. Parker noted that since the BTA came into effect, the US has slashed the average tax rate on Vietnamese goods from 40 percent to around 4 percent. Attendees at the seminar also called on Vietnam to continue with legal reforms, increase investment in both the private and State sectors, become more active in the fields of education, vocational training and health care and remain abreast of the challenges that the integration process brings if the country wishes to maintain its dynamic economic growth rates. Sharing the same view with US experts, Tran Dinh Thien, Vice Director of the Vietnam Economics Institute, said that the BTA was a landmark moment for Vietnam's economy and that lessons learned from the five-year implementation of the BTA will aid Vietnam in realising and overcoming the challenges that the country's WTO accession has brought with it. (Source: VNA, Viet Nam Net)

Vietnam to have aircraft leasing company

16:44' 17/07/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – An aircraft leasing company, the first and only 100% Vietnamese-owned company of this kind, is taking shape. Its four founding shareholders are the four giants, BIDV (banker), Vietnam Airlines (air carrier), PetroVietnam (oil and gas) and VNPT (telecommunications). Tran Bac Ha, Director General of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), said that the Government had agreed in principle to the project on setting up an aircraft leasing company. The detailed project has been completed and submitted to the Prime Minister for final approval. It is very likely that the Government will instruct the joint stock company to purchase four medium-distance Boeing 787s. It is expected that the first aircraft in the deal would arrive in 2015. The market for aircraft leasing proves to have a lot of potential in Vietnam. While operational airlines have to serve more clients they are still facing big financial difficulties which hinder them from buying more aircrafts. Mr Ha said that one of the clients that would charter aircrafts would be Vietnam Airlines, the national flag air carrier. Thoi bao kinh te Vietnam has quoted Reuters as saying that the sum of money that BIDV will pay to implement the project may reach $800mil. In related news, Vietnam Airlines has announced it will apply four new special airfares, $35, $29, $25 and $19 for Q, E, P, A classes, respectively, not including surcharges and taxes. Passengers flying from Hanoi or HCM City to Bangkok and vice versa from August 15 will have to pay $19 per trip (not including surcharges and taxes). The programme will begin on July 20 and be applied for flights between August 15 and October 31, 2007. The number of seats open for sale in this programme will be very big, reaching 20,000 seats, or 35% of total seats. Though enjoying low airfares passengers will still enjoy all the services and facilities as applied for normal airfares. Together with the currently run Free & Easy programme, Vietnam Airlines will create best conditions for passengers to fly to Thailand at the lowest possible costs. The Vietnam-Thailand air transport market has been retaining high growth rates of 7-10% over the last three years. Vietnam Airlines carried 85,000 passengers on its flights in the first six months of the year. Passengers who want to book tickets soon and get more information about the flights may contact Vietnam Airlines booking agents at 04.8320320, 08.8320320, and 0511.811111. Prior to that, the Prime Minister released a decision, allowing the Ministry of Finance to guarantee for the deals of purchasing two Airbus A321s, expected to be delivered in July and November 2007. In the latest announcement, Vietnam Airlines said it had put off the launch of direct flights to the US until next year since it was still unprepared. (Source: VietNamNet, TBKTVN)