The week-long International Women World Fair 2006 was opened yesterday in Ha Noi with the attendance of domestic female-run enterprises, embassies and NGOs working on gender equality and for women’s advancement in Viet Nam.

In June, 3 training-class were organized by TYM Fund (Micro credit Fund of Central VWU) for 91 cadres in credit principles, mobilization and negotiation skills.

The Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) expresses its deep concern at the recent war and violence escalation in the Middle East, which heavily harm civilians in Lebanon and Palestine, especially women and children.

They are ethnic minority women, followers of religion, producers of traditional brocade, woven rattan and bamboo products and sedge mats, in 9 communes belong to Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan, Lam Dong provinces.

From various sources of capital, Khanh Hoa provinces' women's unions at all levels have helped over 8,000 women to access to loans worth VND 39 billion.

The Embassy of Finland and the Women’s Union of Ha Giang province signed the project “Pilot model of caged “Chiem” fish raising, opening a new business model for poor women in the province.

Recently, Quan Hoa Women‘s Union in Thanh Hoa Province has organized a training class to teach and develop the traditional textile industry among local ethnic minority women.

In 2005 and the early months of 2006, Bac Ninh Women's Union at all levels combined with the Social Policy Bank to mobilize funds from other sources. This money funded 55,614 women members with more than VND 199 billion, in which, VND 112 billion is Social Policy Bank's fund equal to 56%. Districts with the largest funds are Que Vo (67,8 billion) and Yen Phong (34,6 billion).

On May 24th, 2006, Mme Ha Thi Khiet, member of the Central Party’s Committee, President of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women, President of the Vietnam Women’s Union and Mr. Jesper Morch, United Nation’s coordinator in Vietnam hosted a reception welcoming Mr. Kofi Annan, United Nation’s General Secretary and his spouse at Melia hotel. Present at the reception were women leaders of several Ministries/sectors and United Nation’s representatives in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Women's Union (VWU) on June 19 presented an insignia for the advancement of Vietnamese women to the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam, Anna Lindstedt, in recognition of her active support for the Vietnamese women.

The 14th Congress of Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF) will be held in Venezuela in 2007 with the slogan “Women of the world - a vital force against neo-liberal globalization, imperialism, terrorism and wars for equality, economic and social justice, and peace”.

During UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annans official visit to Vietnam, his spouse Mrs. Nane Annan paid a visit to Branch 7 of VWU’s TYM credit fund in Me Linh district, Vinh Phuc province. She attended a meeting with women borrowers at Center 15, Branch 7 and visited 2 women borrowers at their residence.

During the 38th session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee (March 27 - April 5, 2006), a discussion on the draft Gender Equality Law was held in the morning of March 30.

Right after the article “Vietnamese bride was auctioned in Malaysia” was published in Tien Phong newspaper on 8th May 2006, Mme. Ha Thi Khiet – Member of Vietnam Central Party, President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, President of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women sent a letter to Mme. Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Zalil - Minister of the Malaysian Ministry on Women, Family and Community Development and Mme. Ramani Gurusamy, Vice President of the National Council of Women’s Organizations in Malaysia. Hereinafter is the full text of the letter addressed to Mme. Minister.

From 31 March – 11 April 2006, Ms. Truong Thi Khue - First Vice President of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) joined the delegation of Vietnamese partners of the program “Assistance for Institutional and Regional Development on Management in Vietnam” (DIREG) and representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training on a working visit to Canada.

Following the orientation workshop on March 14, 2006, a training of trainers workshop was held in Hanoi from April 5-25, 2006. It was done in the framework of the project “Building capacity and developing VWU models of supporting rural women in aquaculture”.

On Apr. 26, 2006, the Central VWU Party organized a get-together with female members of the 9th and 10th Party Central Committee.

Buddhist clerics from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and several southern provinces flocked to HCM City on April 20 to attend a conference on the progress of an initiative for providing consultancy and support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Managers from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Central Highlands Lam Dong province and central Khanh Hoa province gathered at a workshop on improving awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS in the workplace in the resort city of Da Lat on April 11.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (third from left, first row) asked relevant ministries to work with the Vietnam Elders’ Association (VEA) to provide the best possible care services for the elders.

At the official visit to Vietnam, on 6th April, the delegation of Nepali parliamentarians headed by Mme. Chitralekha Yadav visited the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU).

Implementing the Plan No 44/KH-DCT on 20 April 2005 of VWU Presidium on organization of Women’s Congress at all levels towards the X National Women’s Congress, by 30 March 2006, there are 605/3.297 units (statistics from 18/57 provinces, cities) completing their women’s congress at grassroots level.

German Banking Group supports Microfinance in Vietnam

Her mother, Pham Thi Su, 47, is an ex-soldier, is ill. Because of her ailment, all savings have been spent on her medicine and hospital fees

HIV/AIDS infected adults living at State-owned welfare centres will be given monthly allowances of at least 140,000 VND, while child patients at these centres will receive at least 210,000 VND.

Vietnam is witness to a new trend: Students who went abroad for advanced studies like doctorates are returning home in greater numbers than ever before after completing their studies.

Dozens of Vietnamese women married to Taiwanese have protested in Taipei over comments made by a member of parliament for the local Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) party, ABC News reported Tuesday.

Vice State President Truong My Hoa gave her blood at a charity festival held in Ha Noi on April 4 as a call for blood donation on the occasion of the Voluntary Blood Donation Day.

The fight against HIV/AIDS in Vietnam has absorbed US $24.06 million of public fund over the 2001-05 period, said Deputy Finance Minister Huynh Thi Nhan.

In February 2006, over 100 W.U leaders and staff experts from 30 provinces received training on project management.

The prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US recently announced a doctoral scholarship worth US$349,920 for a Vietnamese IT major.

Vietnamese-American fashion designer Chloe Dao, who recently won the US Project Runway’s first prize wishes to return to Vietnam to direct a charity fashion show, her mother said.

Twelve expat Vietnamese youngsters arrived in Vietnam Monday sponsored by the US Catalyst Foundation for a 10-day trip to help local underprivileged kids and discover their home country in the process.

Lonely older people without income will be entitled to community-based support (minimum 65,000 VND/month) or housed in the Government’s social protection centers with the support of 140.000VND/month.

 

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), Education Sectoral Committee for the Advancement of Women and Education Sectoral Trade Union held a get-together of distinguished lectures, teachers and administration staff on March 6.

The Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and the United Nations Country Team in Viet Nam on 21 February 2006 launched a major joint project to promote greater involvement of people living with HIV in HIV/AIDS programmes in the country.

Mr. Pham The Duyet, President of the Central Fatherland’s Front (CFF) has sent greetings message to the Catholics and Protestants on the occasion of Christmas 2005,

Harm reduction programmes have brought effective results to Vietnam's HIV/AIDS fight in recent years among the rapid spread of the epidemic.

Vietnam, which has always boasted a young population, is all set to age since its fertility rate is at the replacement level of 2.1, a recent census has found.

The Vietnam-Japan Joint Committee for Tourism Cooperation convened its first session in the resort city of Dalat, central highland Lam Dong Province, on December 9, 2005.

By the end of September this year, Vietnam had 101,291 HIV/AIDS positive people, 16,528 of whom have developed full-blown AIDS and 9,554 have died of the disease.

Vietnam is home to many foreign teachers who have fond memories of their students and their activities together, especially on Vietnamese Teachers’ Day.

By the end of September this year, Vietnam had 101,291 HIV/AIDS positive people, 16,528 of whom have developed full-blown AIDS and 9,554 have died of the disease.

A visually impaired girl in central Ha Tinh province has not only triumphed over her disability to graduate from university, but is now working towards her master’s degree.

Nation strives to meet target of educating disadvantaged kids

The HelpAge International (HAI) and the Big Lottery Fund of Britain has launched the first ever project in Vietnam to improve the living conditions of the elderly who are affected by the global AIDS pandemic.

Founded in October 20, 1930, today, VWU is 75 years old. Over the past 75 years, the Union has grown up in strength. The nation-wide emulation movement launched by the Union has attracted millions of women throughout the country, contributing to the national patriotic emulation movements, raising the status and position of the women and the women’s union as well.

On the International Day for the Elderly people 1st October, the VWU in cooperation with Help Age International Organization (HAI) held a press conference on the topic “The Role of the Elderly Women on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care for HIV Infected People, Orphans and Vulnerable Children”.

It is normal to pass an entrance examination to University, but passing with maximum scores in all 3 subjects is rarely seen. Surprisingly, one of few people who broke the record was a sticky rice vending girl in Nghi Xuan commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province - Nguyen Thi Quynh Giang, the champion among newly admitted students of Vinh Pedagogy University.