Chinese actor Liu Xiao Ling Tong will travel to Vietnam for several cultural activities from December 24 to 30. (SGGP online)

Complex problems can sometimes be solved with simple solutions. For maternal and child health, significant progress has been achieved in Viet Nam by providing weekly supplements of iron and folic acid, and in the Philippines by encouraging breastfeeding. In the process, both countries have taken a step closer to achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which calls for a two thirds reduction in under-5 mortality between 1990 and 2015, and MDG 5, which calls for a three quarters reduction in the maternal mortality ratio.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 15, 2010 (IPS) - At the start of this month, the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted the 'International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act'. Women's rights groups are now urging the Congress's lower chamber to pass it before adjourning at the end of the year.

KHANH HOA — Viet Nam has achieved the best performance in Southeast Asia in eradicating the gender gap over the past 20 years, said Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan at a seminar in the central province of Khanh Hoa on Saturday.

Thirty years of China's one-child policy has led to Chinese parents finding their lonely, siblingless children friends.

Vietnam ranks 113th out of 182 countries and territories in terms of its Human Development Index (HDI), according to the UNDP’s 2009 Human Development Report.

In American schools, boys are underachieving and girls are excelling. This gender gap in academic achievement is evident as early as kindergarten. The longer students are in school, the wider the gap becomes.

An exhibition entitled “Ho Chi Minh and Lifelong Study” opened in Hanoi on October 2 in response to the “Studying and Following President Ho Chi Minh’s Moral Example” campaign and mark the Vietnam Study Encouragement Day (Oct. 2).

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today reaffirmed its commitment to the spirit of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security and its integral link to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as it wrapped up its forty-sixth session.

A book on Vietnam’s Marriage and Family Law was introduced in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on August 13.

The statues of ten young female volunteers - martyrs were inaugurated yesterday at the Dong Loc T-junction relic site in Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province.

Vietnam is facing a growing gender imbalance among newborns, with 110.6 boys born as compared with 100 girls in 2009, said a health official.

Dang Thi Ngoc Han, a 21-year-old arts student from Hanoi was crowned Miss Vietnam 2010 after beating 36 other candidates from across the country at Tuan Chau resort in the northern province of Quang Ninh on August 14.

Luu Thi Diem Huong from Ho Chi Minh City was crowned Miss Vietnam World 2010 at Vinpearl Land, Nha Trang City in the central province of Khanh Hoa on August 21.

Entitled “Dang Thuy Tram – handbooks found during 1968-1970”, the book was translated by Jean-Claude Garcias.

Dang Thi Ngoc Han, a 21-year-old arts student from Hanoi was crowned Miss Vietnam 2010 after beating 36 other candidates from across the country at Tuan Chau resort in the northern province of Quang Ninh on August 14.

While Asia and the Pacific can take pride in the region’s vibrant economic transformation in recent decades, this has not always translated into progress on gender equality.

While Asia and the Pacific can take pride in the region’s vibrant economic transformation in recent decades, this has not always translated into progress on gender equality.

100 photos featuring the beauty of Vietnamese women created by photographer Van Tho will be showcased at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on August 6.

A seminar seeking ideas to create a draft national strategy on gender equality for the 2011-2020 period was held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) in Ho Chi Minh City on July 15.

HCM CITY — Appointing gender-equality staff and an office in each province should be an integral part of the national gender-equality strategy, delegates said at a meeting yesterday to discuss plans for the period 2011-15.

100 photos featuring the beauty of Vietnamese women created by photographer Van Tho will be showcased at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on August 6.

28 June 2010 – The annual high-level segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) opened today with speakers calling for women and girls to be placed at the centre of the global struggle to achieve the social and economic targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

VietNamNet Bridge - United Nations Resident coordinator in Vietnam, John Hendra declared Vietnam a leader in gender equity at a meeting in Hanoi on March 9 to announce a 2010 human development report (HDR).

Dissemination of gender equality information remains the most important tool to minimising the gender imbalance and soaring growth of the population, according to the director of the Population and Family Planning General Department Nguyen Ba Thuy.

VietNamNet Bridge – Five-year-old Yen is pretending to be a traffic policewoman, directing her classmates in imaginary cars through an intersection, while in another corner of the kindergarten in Me town a boy plays with plastic dishes and a toy stove

Hundreds of Argentinean scholars, politicians, artists and friends of Vietnam attended a symposium in Buenos Aires on June 18 to explore Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh’s life, revolutionary cause and thoughts.

VietNamNet Bridge - United Nations Resident coordinator in Vietnam, John Hendra declared Vietnam a leader in gender equity at a meeting in Hanoi on March 9 to announce a 2010 human development report (HDR).

VietNamNet Bridge – The European Commission has launched an international painting contest focusing on gender equality under the sponsorship of Belgium Princess Mathilde, for the third time.

– a fair on international books in 2010 will be held in Hanoi under the theme “Celebrating 1,000 years of Thang Long – Hanoi” from sept 17-21.

HCM CITY — Whether they are landscapes, abstract, surreal or still life paintings; whether they depict life's turbulence or its beauty, they all carry a distinct female perspective.

HA NOI — Colourful photographs of the capital captured by expatriate members of the Ha Noi International Women's Club (HIWC) are on display at the organisation's annual photo exhibition and contest.

Viet Nam has striven to promote gender equality, particularly in the pubic sector, Nguyen Thanh Hoa, deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said in a report to the UN in New York on Tuesday.

The national tourism development strategy for 2020 spotlights gender equality as a key element for a green and sustainable industry.

The Vietnam Women’s Union Central Committee has coordinated with the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development in a project to combat domestic violence.

A open-air cai luong (reformed theatre) performance starring one of the city’s most talented young artistes will be held at the Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 on Sunday.

Based on a contemporary short story, an award-winning Vietnamese film about the tragic life of a selfless wife has captured the imaginations of local and international film fans.

Despite signs of progress in gender equality over the past 15 years, there is still a significant gap between women and men in terms of job opportunities and quality of employment, according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO).

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung emphasised the Government’s investment in children is a guarantee of the nation’s future.

Documents referring to Hat xoan must be submitted to the UNESCO prior to March 31 2010 for it to be considered for recognition by the world cultural heritage in 2011. However, it took until mid-January, the first international workshop on Hat Xoan to be held in Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province, the home of Hat xoan.

VietNamNet Bridge – This year many Vietnamese men and women participated in international beauty pageants, but they treated investments in costumes lightly, especially in traditional garments.

The festival of Temple worshiping Lady Au Co, who is believed the mother of the Vietnamese people, kicked off on February 20 at Hien Luong commune, Ha Hoa district, northern midland province of Phu Tho, to celebrate the creation of the Vietnamese people in the lead-up to the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long- Hanoi.

The Vietnamese Government is so concerned about population imbalances created by pre-natal gender selection it plans to fine those storing, distributing or selling any literature or CDs relating to the subject up to VND40 million (US2,200).

Ancient rules requiring women to obey men undercut new laws

Gender Equality Efforts by Civil Society and Governments in 26 Countries to Be Supported

More than 1.9 million USD will be earmarked to carry out 43 gender equality activities under the 2010 Vietnam-UN joint action programme.

More than US$1.9 million will be earmarked for the implementation of 43 gender equality activities under the 2010 Vietnam-UN joint action programme, according to a seminar jointly held by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in Hanoi on Dec. 21

Ha Noi, 21 December, 2009 – Pursuant to the Law on Gender Equality, the Government of Viet Nam has recently approved a National Programme of Action to 2020 to support the empowerment and advancement of women in the current period of accelerating industrialization and modernization of the country. This document codifies the government’s commitments to eliminate gender inequalities, and reinforces the recognition of women’s significant contributions to socio-economic development and poverty eradication.

VietNamNet Bridge – A chalk drawing exhibition by Korean Woo Hyeong Hwa and three students protégés has proved to be a big hit in Hanoi with All 90 artworks sold for charity after the exhibition.

The Government has issued a seven-point programme for advancing women during the country’s national industrialisation and modernisation process in an effort to turn Vietnam into a regional leader in gender equality issues by 2020.

This is a target until 2020 in the Government’s action plan to implement resolution 11-NQ/TW of the Politburo on women in increased period of industrialization and modernization.

Increasing female parliamentarians’ role in legislation is an important goal of all nations, which has been included in the working agenda of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) for the past years, says a senior Vietnamese legislator.

Vietnam’s representative, Nguyen Ngoc Lan Huong, was chosen as one of the top five beauties in the 2009 Miss World Model in China on November 26.

Seventy-six candidates from countries and territories worldwide took part in the final round and the coronation of Mrs World Pageant 2009 at the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Sport Hall on November 22.

Seventy-six candidates from countries and territories worldwide took part in the final round and the coronation of Mrs World Pageant 2009 at the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Sport Hall on November 22.

‘The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the law on gender equality in Vietnam’ was the theme of a seminar held in Hanoi on November 24.

VietNamNet Bridge – To prepare for the Mrs. World 2009 pageant, Mrs. World Organisation Chairman David Z. Marmel has been in Vietnam since October 28. He recently spoke with the press about the pageant.

VietNamNet Bridge – From November 2-5, 75 Mrs. World contestants will come to Vietnam to compete in the Mrs. World 2009 in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

VietNamNet Bridge – From November 2-5, 75 Mrs. World contestants will come to Vietnam to compete in the Mrs. World 2009 in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

Jeffey Androsky, Star World’s director will be the general director on the final night of Mrs World Pageant.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 27 (IPS) - Gender equality contributes to economic growth, but economic growth does not always contribute to gender equality, says the United Nations World Survey on the Role of Women in Development launched Tuesday, a message well timed in the context of the current financial crisis.

The Vietnam Women’s Union and the department of Science and Technology of central Thua Thien Hue province established the Hue Non La Association in Hue city on October 17.

VietNamNet Bridge – Two Vietnamese contestants at the Mrs. World 2010 in Ba Ria – Vung Tau this November will wear reformed ao dai featuring lotus and crane, said designer Ngo Nhat Huy.

VietNamNet Bridge - Miss Vietnam Global 2009’s second runner-up Tran Thi Huong Giang has been selected to participate in the upcoming Miss World 2009 pageant, a spokesperson for US-based Rare Antibody Antigen Supply, Inc. (RAAS) announced October 23.

After two decades of war during which thousands of children were used as child soldiers and many women raped, northern Uganda’s recovery plan is to be spent on building roads rather than helping the country’s most vulnerable.

VietNamNet Bridge – The US-based RAAS Group, which holds the right to send a Vietnamese contestant to the Miss World 2009 pageant, will select a candidate from three nominees recommended by the PL Modeling Company.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Miss Earth 2009 Pageant will take place in the Philippines in two weeks. A month later, there’s the Miss World 2009 contest in South Africa. However, up to now there’s no official Vietnamese contestant for either event.

October 7 marked the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to science for Israeli chemist Ada Yonath. She became the ninth Israeli Nobel laureate and the first woman to pick up the prize for chemistry in some 45 years.

Three female collectives and ten individuals were awarded the Vietnam Women’s Prize at a ceremony held in HCM City on October 18 to mark the 79th anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Union (October 20).

HCM CITY — Three contestants from the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta were crowned the best singers at the annual vong co contest held by HCM City Television on Thursday.

A photo exhibition entitled “Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World” opened in London , the United Kingdom , on September 29.

The film selection council and the Vietnam Cinematography Department, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on September 29 decided to choose “Don’t Burn” directed by Dang Nhat Minh to represent Vietnam at the 82nd Oscar Awards in the US.

Khanh aims to instill sense of respect, love.

Hai Duong, 22 September 2009 - An historic event for Viet Nam’s children and the country’s future takes place today in Hai Duong. The Vietnamese Government, led by Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and Ministry of Health (MOH), in partnership with the United Nations and various international NGOs and civil society organizations, commits its support to Viet Nam’s children and families affected by HIV, through the launch of Prime Minister’s Decision No. 84 about the implementation of ‘The National Plan of Action (NPA) for Children Affected by HIV and AIDS until 2010 with a vision to 2020’.

HCM CITY — Parental indulgence is a major reason for the increase in the obesity rate of children, especially at the primary school level, according to nutrition experts.