The Vietnam's Women's Union Central Executive Committee opened its 9th conference in Hanoi on January 8.

2006 was the first year implementing the cooperation plan (2006 – 2010) between Health Department and Lao Cai Provincial Women’s Union on preventing malnutrition in children under 5 years old and reproductive health care.

Since early 2006 Cao Bang provincial Women’s Union at all levels has acted as a guarantee for more than 5,000 poor women to get loans from Social Policy Bank, Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, National Fund for Employment Creation t … with a total amount of nearly 40 billion VND.

The jury of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union’s “Young citizens of the city 2006” award held a final vote on Tuesday and selected five winners.

In 2007, Vietnam strives to speed up economic development to reach an increase of 8.2-8.5% in GDP and raise the economy's growth quality and competitiveness.

To celebrate 2006 Christmas, Hanoi WU held many practical activities with religious followers.

On the occasion of the Christmas 2006, with the support of the Public Relations Department of the District Party Committee, the Phu Nhuan Women's Union held a get-together of over 50 nuns and religious women in the district to celebrate the significant religious event, expressing the mutual sentiment, unity, and interest between the Union and the religious women.

On 12th December 2006, the Presidential Office held a press conference to announce Law on Gender Equality, which was earlier ratified by the 9th National Assembly at its 10th session.

To prevent children from legal violation is necessary to every people, family and society, especially in the present international integration economy – this is the message of delegates attending the workshop on sharing experiences on managing and educating children not to commit sins and social evils, took place in No2 Rehabilitation School of V26 Department (in Ninh Binh province) organized by VWU in cooperation of Ministry of Police on December 17th, 2006.

In December 14th 2006, WU of Ho Chi Minh City, in coordination with the Resources and Environment Dept., organized final round of the contest “Women and Environment” with the participation of 10 groups which have been short-listed (10 persons per each). These groups are from Clubs of women joining to environmental protection of the districts 4, 5, 9, 12, Phu Nhuan, Tan Binh, Tan Phu and Hoc Mon.

13th Dec 2006, Mme. Ha Thi Khiet, Member of the Central Party Committee, President of Vietnam Women’s Union, President of the National Committee for the Advancement of Vietnamese Women met VWU’s local key cadres from the minorities and religious communities who are attending a training class on VWU’s work at Vietnam Central Women’s School.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung set three major tasks for 2007, focusing on efforts to gain gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 8.5 percent, step up administrative reform and intensify the fight against corruption, at the government's regular meeting on Dec. 27.

Vietnamese women are winning more and more key positions and leadership in all socio-economic spheres, boosting up national development.

According to the Central Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Control’s report, by 7th Dec 2006, Durian death toll rises to 67 people, 31 others went missing in the typhoon, the 9th of its kind this year.

In the morning of Dec 14th, 2006, Mrs. Nguyen Viet Hong - Deputy Head of the Working Committee for Southern Region, Central Viet Nam Women's Union accompanied by a delegation of cadres of the Ho Chi Minh Women's Union visited households in Can Gio district that have been seriously damaged by the Storm No 9.

From November 6th to November 11th, 2006, the Vinh Phuc Women's Union, in co-ordination with the province's Politics College, held a course to enhance professional skills for more than 100 trainees who are the presidents, vice presidents of the Union at the grass-root level and the women cadres of the Provincial Blind's Association.

Ms Chau Kim Thuy, 60, lives in a happy family in Ly Thuong Kiet road, Duc Nghia ward, Phan Thiet city. Her children have been successful in life. So, she and her husband have been able to do charity activities.

Vietnam's current population growth rate is 1.33%, announced the Commission on Population, Family and Children at a meeting held in Hanoi on December 26 to mark the Vietnam Population Day.

In the morning of 8th Dec. 2006, the Board for the advancement of women in the Ministry of Science and Technology and that of the National Science and Technology Information Center co-held the conference titled “Gender in Science and Technology Development”.

The reduction of population growth rate and the changes in population structure have greatly helped improve Vietnam's people's living conditions and socio-economic development.

In the morning of November 29th, the Central of Vietnam Women's Union and the Women's Union of Hanoi held a meeting with the women trainees at the Center for Social Labour Education No 2 in Ba Vi, Ha Tay Province to present gifts for them on the occasion of International HIV/AIDS Prevention Day.

"Consistent to the commitment - Determined to prevent AIDS" - the title of the International HIV/AIDS Prevention Day of 2006 (Dec 12th, 2006) was widely advocated for by the staff of the Central Vietnam Women's Union at the meeting to celebrate the International HIV/AIDS Prevention Day co-organized by the Labour Union of the Central Vietnam Women's Union and the Women's AIDS and Reproductive Center on Nov 11th, 2006.

“[Congress] hopes to act [on dealing with Agent Orange consequences] this year,” Vietnam Television (VTV) quoted Tim Rieser, aide to Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, as saying at a press briefing held by the US Embassy in Hanoi Sunday.

Americans on Dec. 19 became honourable members of the Viet Nam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA).

It is not easy to know that eautiful girl comes from Japan. She is Matsugawa Norie, a volunteer of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), who is now working with the Red Cross chapter of Hoang Hoa district, Thanh Hoa province.

On December 5th, the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam hosted the 17th Gender Consultants’ Network Meeting with the participation of nearly 50 officials, lecturers and experts on gender and secretaries of the Department for the Advancement of Women from Ministries/sectors...

Over 500 people attended the wedding Saturday of Nguyen Duc, one of the best known victims of Agent Orange, the defoliant sprayed by the US army in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ten students from four universities in Vietnam have received the Honda Yes Award, a prize for talented engineers and young scientists conferred by the Honda Foundation and Honda Vietnam Co.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee yesterday adopted the Ordinance on Grass Roots Democracy, which is aimed at further enhancing people’s democratic rights and participation in the process of state governance.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on December 11 issued a new report commending Vietnam’s efforts in eliminating gender discrimination.