Hanoi voted in top ten destinations for winter holiday




Hanoi voted in top ten destinations for winter holiday


QĐND – Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 22:38 (GMT+7)

The US-based Huffington Post has named Hanoi among a top ten of great winter destinations.


It lines up alongside St. Petersburg of Russia, Krakow of Poland, Edinburgh of Scotland, Tallinn of Estonia, Tokyo of Japan, Berlin of Germany, India’s Mumbai, Australia’s Sydney and Iceland’s Reykjavik. 


However while “Huff Post” deserves congratulations for including Hanoi its readers may be better off doing their own research. While Hanoi’s autumn is pleasantly cool and largely dry – after Christmas, Hanoi’s winters can become bracingly cold. 


By late December temperatures can drop well below 10 degrees centigrade. However, Hanoi remains fascinating throughout the year and the cold weather allows you to discover it via long walks across the city rather than having to hide in airconned rooms. 


But you might not need to pack your shorts.


Source: VietnamNet


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Hanoi attends Asian Major Cities’ conference in Thailand




Hanoi attends Asian Major Cities’ conference in Thailand


QĐND – Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 22:38 (GMT+7)

Hanoi was among the 10 Asian cities taking part in the eighth conference for the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21), which took place in the Thai capital of Bangkok from October 31 to November 4.


The other cities represented include New Delhi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, and Singapore.


The participants at the event exchanged their experiences in managing a major city, especially in urban planning, and infrastructure development as well as in addressing problems that have arisen from rapid urbanization.


The conference also discussed measures to maintain a sustainable tourism industry, prevent the A/H1N1 influenza from breaking out in big cities and deal with the global financial crisis, environmental protection and industrial development.


At present, many Asian cities are facing problems such as rapid urbanization, population growth, the spread of diseases, high crime rates and a drop in living standards.


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the population of urban areas around the world grows by an additional 67 million people per year and the number of urban citizens is estimated to rise to around 5 billion by 2030, making up 60 percent of the world’s population.


An exhibition was held on the sidelines of the conference to feature the special characteristics of each Asian city taking part in the conference.


Source: VOV


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Danish Queen Margrethe busy in Hanoi




Danish Queen Margrethe busy in Hanoi


QĐND – Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 22:38 (GMT+7)

President Nguyen Minh Triet and his Danish guests, including Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Prederik and Crown Princess Mary, attended the opening ceremony of a street art festival at the Ly Thai To Flower Garden in Hanoi on November 3.


At the festival, hundreds of Danish and Vietnamese artists gathered in a cultural programme entitled ‘Young Artists Enlarge Borders’. A street art performance serving the public took place from 2:30 pm to 9 pm on the day.


Earlier, Queen Margrethe and her entourage had a full schedule, working with Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, visiting the Bat Trang Ceramics Factory and enjoying performances by Vietnamese children at the Youth Theatre.


They also attended the opening ceremony of a painting exhibition entitled ‘Emergency Room’ at the Hanoi University of Fine Arts, featuring works by more than 20 Danish and Vietnamese painters. The exhibition will last through November 28.


The same day, Queen Margrethe and Price Henrik hosted a banquet for President Nguyen Minh Triet and his wife at the Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature).


Source: VNA


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Vietnam set to reinforce practical ties with Cambodia




Vietnam set to reinforce practical ties with Cambodia


QĐND – Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 22:38 (GMT+7)

Vietnam expects to join efforts with Cambodia to develop bilateral relations in a bid to bring practical benefits to both sides, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.


PM Dung made this statement while receiving Cambodian Permanent Deputy PM Men Sam An, who doubles as President of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA), in Hanoi on November 3.


The government leader noted with pleasure that Vietnam-Cambodia ties have grown fruitfully, especially in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics and trade, despite the impact of the global economic crisis.


The two nations have also co-operated smoothly in maintaining security, border demarcation and marker planting, mitigating damage caused by natural disasters and facilitating co-operative relations between border provinces, he said.


PM Dung appreciated the efforts of both the CVFA and Men Sam An in beefing up their bilateral relationship, saying that the Vietnamese government will create favourable conditions for the two sides to co-operate effectively, not only at the central level, but also among local chapters.


The PM asked the two associations to increase the dissemination of information about the time-honoured friendship amongst younger generations, and step up co-ordination at international forums, particularly in ASEAN and APEC.


Regarding acts and statements made by Sam Rainsy – President of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), who recently uprooted six temporary poles for Marker 185 between Vietnam’s southern province of Long An and Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province – he proposed that the Cambodian government take due measures to deal with Rainsy’s acts of sabotage and not permit similar cases to occur, as they negatively affect the fine relations between the two nations.


Having expressed delight at effective co-operation in economics, trade and investment, An said the two nations need to expand co-operation into the areas of aviation, post and telecommunications and banking.


The deputy PM stated that Sam Rainsy’s recent acts destroyed a national asset and violated the laws of Cambodia, undermining its fine relationship with Vietnam.


Empowered by the President, PM Dung bestowed a Friendship Order on the Cambodian official.


The same day, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, Truong Tan Sang, received the Cambodian guests.


Mr Sang applauded the CVFA’s collaboration with its Vietnamese counterpart and other partners from both countries to organise practical activities which have helped to beef up friendship and co-operation between their two peoples.


The Party official said he hoped that the two associations would work together to hold more such activities in future for the sake of Vietnam-Cambodia relations.


Also on November 3, the Cambodian delegates worked with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam Women’s Union.


VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong took this occasion to present the union’s noblest award–the insignia ‘For peace and friendship between nations’ – to Men Sam An and four other members of the Cambodian delegation.


Source: VNA


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Over 80 people reported dead in central region




Over 80 people reported dead in central region


QĐND – Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 22:38 (GMT+7)

According to the latest statistics, released on November 4, the central province of Phu Yen has up to 65 people dead from a total of 83 deaths in the central region, caused by typhoon Mirinae.


Phu Yen province suffered the highest losses in the central region, with a further 16 missing and 20 injured in the flood. Dong Xuan commune has up to 30 dead and is completely isolated by flood. The Dap Da Vai dam in Phu Yen was broken on November 3, submerging the entire Song Cau town, killing many people. 


Meanwhile, in Gia Lai province, the flood is withdrawing. However, seven communes are still isolated by water. Downpours are also causing serious landslides on roads which are affecting rescue attempts. The province has three deaths. 


In Binh Dinh, nine people are reported dead, two missing and 17 injured. By morning November 4, some districts were still isolated. 


Khanh Hoa province reported four deaths, four missing and four injured people.


Source: VietnamNet


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