Party leader pledges to boost ties with Australia
Viet Nam values relations with Australia, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh told visiting Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith here yesterday.

President Triet praises Nghe An's high growth
President Nguyen Minh Triet has praised the Party Committee and people of Nghe An for sustained high economic growth in the province.

Viet Nam, Pakistan plan to boost bilateral relations
Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday received a delegation of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate of Pakistan, led by its chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed.

Student loans come under spotlight
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will establish inspection groups to examine the implementation of student loan policies in various cities and provinces with extraordinarily high and low levels of outstanding loans, according to the Government Office.

New law to bring accountability
Customers can now sue merchants for damages if they're sold fake or out-of-date products thanks to the Law on Quality of Products and Goods which came into effect on Tuesday.

Government strategies to tackle soaring inflation on right track: economic experts
The country's socio-economic situation and measures to curb inflation, stabilise the macro-economy and boost social welfare and growth were high on the agenda at the Government's regular meeting in the capital yesterday.

Gov't authorises drug price hikes
Deputy Minister of Health Cao Minh Quang has approved a drug industry request to increase the prices of some 200 drugs by 5-10 per cent amid fears of a supply shortfall.

Ex-drug addicts learn valuable lessons
Chinese craftsmen have passed on skills that are enabling former Vietnamese drug addicts to produce jewellery from semi-precious stones.

Foreign tourists to VN rise 8 per cent in first six months
The number of foreign visitors to Viet Nam in the first six months of this year increased by 8 per cent against the first half of last year, the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism has revealed. But, this is only 46 per cent of the forecast for the year.

$120,000 jewels in the crown
Although the 2008 Miss Universe pageant in Nha Trang city is still two weeks away, the crown the winner will receive has already attracted great attention worldwide.