Editor Notes:The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has recently said that those travel operators who employ foreign guides will be penalized or even have their license revoked, depending on their offenses. The warning was given earlier this month following media reports that many foreigners are working as unlicensed tour guides in the country. Vietnamese tourism laws stipulate that a tour guide must have Vietnamese nationality and live in Vietnam. A recent announcement by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism that warns tourism companies which employ foreign tour guides will likely lose their licenses is generating a lot of conversation among locals and expats. The problem is that the warning denies the realities of 21st century tourism management, regardless of what country this ruling would apply. As the number of tourists visiting Vietnam grows, the training and number of local tour guides proficient in foreign languages has barely kept pace. The … [Read more...] about Vietnam tourism: Who is guiding who?
Foreign language proficiency pay army
Social News Headlines 22/2
First dioxin detoxification centre opens in Danang The Danang Association for Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin on February 20 inaugurated a detoxification and rehabilitation centre for AO victims, the first of its kind in the central city of Danang. Funded by the US Harris Freeman Foundation with a total investment of nearly VND2.3 billion (US$108,000), the two-storey centre includes steam and rehabilitation rooms. Danang is home to over 5,000 AO victims, more than 1,400 of whom are children. From 1961 to 1971, the US Army sprayed more than 18.2 million gallons of Agent Orange onto more than 10 percent of the land in southern Vietnam. It is estimated that more than 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to AO/dioxin. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases due to its effects. Entire hydrofoils fleet unsafe All nine hydrofoils operating on the HCM City-Vung Tau route pose a threat to passenger safety, an … [Read more...] about Social News Headlines 22/2
General Vo Nguyen Giap – Unforgettable memories
VietNamNet Bridge - American journalist Stanley Karnow recalled his memories of General Vo Nguyen Giap on Tuoi Tre Daily on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the legendary general (25-8-1911-25-8-2010). Stanley Karnow, 85, is an American journalist who writes popular histories. After serving with the US Army Air Forces in Asia during World War II, he graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in 1947; in 1947 and 1948 he attended the Sorbonne, and from 1948 to 1949 the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris. He then began his career in journalism as a Time correspondent in Paris in 1950. After covering Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (where he was North Africa bureau chief in 1958-59), he went to Asia, where he spent the most influential part of his career. He covered Asia from 1959 until 1974 for Time, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, The London Observer, Washington Post, and NBC News. Present in Vietnam in July 1959 when the first Americans were killed, he … [Read more...] about General Vo Nguyen Giap – Unforgettable memories
Key solutions for realizing socio-economic development plan
VGP - The Government has introduced its key solutions for directing the implementation of the social-economic development plan and State budget estimate in 2012. The following is the full translation of the solutions. RESOLUTION Key solutions for directing the implementation of the social-economic development plan and State budget estimate in 2012 Despite many difficulties and challenges in 2011, the national economy has, as guided by the sound leadership of the Communist Party and drastic measures taken by the Government, as well as fuelled by efforts exerted by sectors and agencies of all levels, the business community and people, moved positively and obtained an array of significant achievements in curbing inflation, stabilizing the macro-economy, and ensuring social welfare. These included an economic growth rate of at about 6%; agriculture developing stably; food output making a new record high; industrial production increasing fairly; service and tourism sectors continuing with … [Read more...] about Key solutions for realizing socio-economic development plan
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/2
State bank ponders rate cut The central bank plans to lower interest rates this year, but is unsure about the best time to do it. The Government recently issued a resolution requiring the central bank to lower interest rates at a proper time in order to meet society's needs. The Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam, Nguyen Van Binh, said bank deposit interest rates would likely drop to about 10 per cent per year if the Government achieves its set target of controlling the rate of inflation at 9 per cent or 9.5 per cent by year-end, while at the same time settling banks' liquidity problems. Such a decrease is possible because since August the monthly consumer price index (CPI) has slowed to a rate of less than one per cent. Moreover, the central bank is bent on solving the liquidity of some credit institutions. A director of a State-run bank, who declined to be named, said that although the CPI had showed signs of lowering deposit interest rates to less than 10 per cent … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/2