Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui

HANOI - When the 21-year-old Vu Thanh Huyen left her hometown with the hope of changing her life by marrying a "rich Chinese man", least she knew that she will be contracted HIV/AIDS from her husband.

Foreign donors Friday pledged over 8 billion dollars in official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam next year, compared with 5 billion dollars for 2009. The rise in aid, announced at the annual Consultative Group meeting of donors in Hanoi, comes as Vietnam's economy is growing at the rate of 5%.

HANOI - Vietnam's attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) is estimated to decrease by 72 percent year-on-year to about 19.7 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of this year, said a report on the website of Vietnamese government on Friday.

First financial investment conference in Vietnam, held by France based Jaccar Group, took place on October 28 in Hanoi with the participation of over 100 investors from many countries, along with representatives of Vietnamese management agencies and enterprises.

Vietnam’s red tape is still a major hindrance for foreign businesses in Vietnam, company representatives told a forum held by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on Thursday in Hanoi.

In first nine months of this year, total overseas investment capital of domestic enterprises gained about $2.1 billion, nearly reaching the full year's $.24 billion plan, reported Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Department.

Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has signed Official Letter No 3353/LDTBXH-VL to enhance the management of foreign workers in Vietnam.

Despite Vietnam being rich in natural resources, its harsh mining tax regime may keep many foreign miners away.

Hanoi - Donors to Vietnam have called on the Vietnamese government to be cautious in a planned bauxite-mining project because it might have severe consequences for the people and environment in the pristine Central Highlands, a diplomat said Wednesday.

The former French colony, known for its dense jungle and tropical beaches, is finally opening its doors to foreign buyers.

The global recession has taken a toll on foreign investment and tourism to Vietnam in the first four months of the year, the government said Tuesday.

Hanoi - Vietnam has attracted foreign direct investment pledges of 5.3 billion dollars so far this year, down 30 per cent from the same period last year, a government official said Thursday.

Police in HCM City have broken up an illegal marriage brokerage that matched Vietnamese women and South Korean men, Vietnamese Press reported yesterday.

The Vietnamese economy may be slowing down as a result of the global recession but foreign experts and investors remain highly optimistic, as they told Sai Gon Giai Phong.

New regulations such as unemployment insurance policy, 10 kinds of earnings subject to PIT, cost reduction for fixed telephones, opening of Vietnamese retail market and others took effect from the first day of 2009.