Eye catching HCM City

HCM City has developed strongly in many fields in the last 35 years but the most impressive development is its infrastructure. VietNamNet introduces the city's changes.

HCM City aims to be multifunctional hub by 2025

HCM City looks to ODA for urban transport development

HCM City earns place as nation's economic spearhead

The city lights up. The building in the centre is Sheraton hotel.

Ben Thanh market – 23/9 Park – Quch Thi Trang roundabout – Ham Nghi road area from above. Small roads to the city's centre have become avenues. Many roads are expanded and rebuilt. The waterway is also upgraded. With capital for construction was less than 500 million dong in 1976-1979, HCM City can currently invest trillions dong in infrastructure.

Nguyen Huu Canh road connects District 1's hub with Thu Thiem bridge, crossing the Saigon river to district 2. Ten years ago, this area was ponds and slums.

The Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal.

Nguyen Van Linh Avenue, District 7.

Phu My bridge, the first cable-stay bridge in HCM City and the fifth on Saigon river, linking Districts 7 and 2.

The East-West avenue in District 5.

The entrances of Thu Thiem tunnel.

Can Gio mangrove forest.

Truc Quan

Sea and Island Week to take place in Quang Binh

LookAtVietnam - Vietnam Sea and Island Week 2010, themed "The ocean of the life, preserve the life of the ocean", will be held in the central province of Quang Binh from June 4-6.

Fresh ideas needed to boost Mekong tourism

Hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the event will include a number of activities such as a sea and island festival, a fair promoting the sea-based economy and a meeting in response to World Environment Day (June 5), World Ocean Day (June and the International Year on Biodiversity.

During the week, a sand painting contest for students, an exhibition of photos on sea and islands and an exchange between young people from the Vietnam General Department of Sea and Islands and Quang Binh province will be held.

Other activities will include visits to traditional craft villages and outstanding seafood processing companies in Quang Binh province and exchanges among businesses.

Developing the island economy is one of the government's priorities Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a ten year master plan for the island economy by 2020 that aims to boost the rapid, effective and sustainable development of the island system, create a breakthrough in developing sea and island economies and turn islands into bases strong enough to defend the nation.

The plan sets a target of raising the island economy's contributions to the national economy to 0.5 percent from the current 0.2 percent and reaching an island economic growth rate to 14-15 percent per year by 2020.

To reach the goal, around VND162.5 trillion will be needed from now to 2020.

Source: VNA

Vietnam opens Consulate General in Houston-Texas

On March 25, Vietnam’s Consulate General officially opened in Houston city, Texas where more than 450,000 overseas Vietnamese are living.

A representative from the US Department of State, Mrs Betty Mc. Cutchon expressed the hope that the newly established consulate general will help boost economic ties between overseas Vietnamese and businesses in Texas.

Micheal Nguyen, an overseas Vietnamese in Texas said that the event will help US companies to tackle economic and trade issues which are very important for both the US and Vietnamese economies.
On the occasion, Vietnamese Consul General introduced Vietnam’s potential and its investment and business environment to major business groups in Texas and called on investors to explore the market and run long-term businesses in Vietnam.

Building a Global Pho-nomenon

Originally reported at the Asia Society of New York

Building a Global Pho-nomenon

Having opened 68 restaurants in 6 Asian countries in 5 years, Dr. Ly Qui Trung's Pho24 chain is turning the Vietnamese street dish pho into a major global brand. Speaking at Asia Society's New York City headquarters last week, Trung discussed his success in a wide-ranging talk that touched on entrepreneurship, intellectual property rights, and the growing Vietnamese economy.

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