Tin va('n VN (ba(`ng tie^'ng Anh)

[AnHai Doan <anhai@cs.washington.edu>]

Five joint stock commercial banks in HCMC just aligned to
offer full services. They have total assets of over
VND2,000 billion and 24 branches nationwide.

Some 275 enterprises including 50 from Australia, France,
the U.S., Japan, Britain and Singapore are taking part in
the Mekong Expo '97 held in Can Tho from April 17-24.

Can Tho University has decided to offer a reduction of
20%-60% on school fees to students of 13 branches
including agronomy, aquaculture and geomancy to encourage
students in the Mekong Delta to learn branches relating to
agriculture.

The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong began to
construct Dalat Biological Lake for treating waste water
from Lake Xuan Huong. The lake worth VND48 billion
comprises two lakes with a total area of 3.6 hectares and
is expected to be put into use late this month.

Hanoi plans to continue to promote administration reform
between now and the year 2000. In the past two years, over
10,000 cadres at many levels have participated in training
and refreshment courses.

On April 4, the Minister of Health issued Directive
04/BYT-CT on strengthening health care inspection
nationwide. The directive was issued after a series of
poisoning cases due to the use of illegal traditional
medicine in Lam Dong, Quang Ngai and Lai Chau provinces.  


Incombank lowers lending rates

(HCMC) The Vietnam Industrial and Commercial Bank
(Incombank) has decreased its monthly lending rates by
0.1% to make them the lowest in the State banking sector
since April 16. Short-term loans will be subject to a
monthly rate of 1.15%; long-term loans, 1.25%; and loans
for exporters, 0.8%. As a result, Incombank's new lending
rates are lower than the ceiling lending rate (1.35%)
specified by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Germany sponsors seminar on technology assessment

(HANOI) The Research Institute of Scientific and
Technological Strategies and Policies and German Hann
Seidel Foundation yesterday began a three-day seminar on
assessment of technology capacity.

Since the country began to pursue the reform policy,
Vietnam's technology has become about 50 years behind that
of developed countries, according to a report by the
Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.

Academic book exhibition held 

(HCMC) An exhibition entitled "Month of Books,
Newspapers, Magazines and Scientific and Technological
Materials" to be held from April 19 to May 19 at 79 Truong
Dinh Street, District 1, HCMC by the HCMC Scientific and
Technological Information Center.
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