Vietnam top news 2006
  1. 19 Jan Hanoi police interrogated Mr. Bui Tien Dung, general director of PMU 18 (Project Management Unit) for reportedly betting 1.8 million USD on English football matches in a single month. The single largest bet was 300,000 USD for a match. He would be charged for gambling. However, investigation would go into how he got that much for gambling. His unit is managing the construction projects including highway 18, Bai Chay bridge (2000 bill VND), etc. Some other officials of the Ministry of Transportation were also involved in the gambling.
  2. Intel applied and got an investment permit for a $604 million semiconductor factory in Hochiminh City 28 Feb.
  3. Plenum of the Party's Central Committee ended in March, candidates were decided for the coming Party Congress.
  4. Cambodian King Sihamoni visited Vietnam, March.
  5. Stocks of all registered and unregistered companies soared up, especially in banking sector. VN index surpassed 500 point.
  6. Government dismissed Transport Minister Dao Dinh Binh and Vice Minister Nguyen Viet Tien from their positions for reportly involvement in large kick-backs from contractors in PMU18 April 3. Mr. Binh submitted a resignation letter just before dismissal. Mr. Tien was arrested.
  7. Vinashin launched the first 53000 WDT ship. Right after the launch water leaked into the ship. It was repaired two days later.
  8. Last Plenum of 9th Central Committee ended 15 April.
  9. The 10th Party Congress started 18 April.
  10. Bill Gates visits Vietnam 22 April.
  11. The 10th Party Congress re-selected Mr. Nong Duc Manh as Secretary General. In addition to 160 members of the Central Committee, a stand-by list of 21 young party members (aged under 45) were selected. The Party Chapter has been changed to allow party members to run private businesses with unlimited size.
  12. Vietnam delegation led by Mr. Truong Dinh Tuyen, Minister of Trade, concluded WTO negotiation with US - the last partner on 13 May.
  13. National Assembly started a session on 16 May to pass 10 laws and appoint new leadership positions.
  14. Typhoon ChanChu on its turn to China sank dozen of fishing boats from Danang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, killing 28 fishermen and leaving hundred missing, 17 May. The boats were about 1000 miles off the Danang coast.
  15. Vietnam and US signed the agreement on conclusion of bilateral negotiation for the accession of Vietnam to WTO, in HCMC 31 May. It is the last bilateral negotiation.
  16. Investigation shows that excessive anti-biotic injection caused hardening (fibrosis?) of delta muscle in thousands of children.
  17. During the questioning sessions at the National Assembly the deputies, for the first time, questioned why the police minister and chief state inspector only reffered to letters of different Party committees who, according to laws, had no power to conclude corruption cases, 14-15 June.
  18. The National Assembly selected Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, (YOB 1944), former party secretary of Hanoi as the new chairman, replacing Mr. Nguyen Van An, 26 June 2006.
  19. The National Assembly selected Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet, (1942), former party secretary of Ho Chi Minh City as the new President and Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung (1949) as the new Prime Minister, 27 June 2006. Minister of Transportation had to resign. New ministers were appointed for Culture, Transportation, Education, Foreign Affairs.
  20. Exibition "Subsidied Economy Life in Hanoi 75-86" attracted lots of viewers and served as a clear message on how bad socialism ideas were, June.
  21. New Law on Environmental Protection and Revised Invetment Law unifying foreign and local investment come to effect 1 July.
  22. Teacher Do Viet Khoa from Ha Tay province braved to break the silence of rampant examination cheating organized by schools to meet the graduation target, July.
  23. Member of National Assembly Mac Kim Ton, Director of Education Dept, Thai Binh, was dismissed from his privileges and arrested for his role in cheating computer companies and receiving kick-back from schools.
  24. Venezuela President Hugo Chavez visited Vietnam 31/7 to sign a number of deals. Cooperation on socialism was discussed. Hugo visited Gen. Giap.
  25. Party's Secretary General Nong Duc Manh paid official visit to China, 22 Aug.
  26. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended ASEM 6 meeting in Helsinki, Finland 10 Sep.
  27. US Finance Secretary Henry Poul attended APEC Finance Minister meeting in Hanoi and talked to students of Hanoi Economic University, 8 Sep.
  28. Storm Sangsane (nr. 6, of 12 degree) hit Da Nang, Quang Nam and neighboring provinces. 40 people were killed with damages estmated at 5000 billion VND, 1 October.
  29. Former mayer of Hanoi, Mr. Hoang Van Nghien was found privatising municipality house worth more than 1 million USD. State Bank governor happened to be scrutinized too because he made land license "red book" for his house at record speed: 40 days from decision for rent.
  30. Vietnam completed multilateral negotiation for accession to WTO on 13 October.
  31. A death row inmate, Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, 39, while being held in "absolute" isolation cell in Hoa Binh province for her drug traffic sentence, got pregnant. According to VN laws her death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. It can be story for a movie.
  32. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung made the official visit to Japan, the first foreign PM to visit Japan after PM Abbe took his office.
  33. Vietnam became WTO member, 7 November. Deputy PM cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem attended WTO meeting in Geneva.
  34. The Prime Minister ordered rice export to stop in fear of rising rice price in domestic market 8 Nov.
  35. Hanoi hosted APEC Summit meeting from 13/11-19/11. President Bush, Putin, Chinese Ho, Japanese PM Abe, Chilean President... came for Summit 19/11.
  36. Typhoon Durian (of 10 degree) hit Ba Ria Vung Tau province and Mekong delta provinces, leaving 60 dead and huge damages to houses that were not designed to sustain the wind; 5 December.
  37. MIT professor was serously wounded by motorbike while crossing the street. Similar accident killed professor Dao, former rector of VNU a week later. That sparked a wave of requesting the government to deal with the traffic chaos, December.
  38. National Assembly adopted WTO assession to WTO.
  39. US passed PNTR for Vietnam, 9 December. President Bush signed a package of laws including PNTR to Vietnam on 20 Dec.
  40. Fire destroyed central market in Quy Nhon city causing damage estimated at 120 billion VND, 16 Dec.
  41. Japanese government decided to check 100% of shrimp shipments from Vietnam for anti-biotic (chloraphenicol) traces, Dec.
  42. Earthquake in Taiwan on 26 Dec paralized Internet connections in Vietnam.
  43. Stock market closed at VN-index 751 vs 305 in January, or 146% increase. There were flocks of companies rushing to register in the last days of the year. The stock market management warned of possible adjustment by traders to bring the price/earning ration closer to reality, 29 Dec.
  44. GDP growth rate for 2006 reaches 8.17% (gso.gov.vn). Export reaches 40 billion US$, 29 Dec.Foreign investment recorded at 10 billion US$. ODA commitment rises to 4.4 billion US$.
  45. Other figures say inflation is 6.5%. However, at Hanoi streets a bow of pho went up from 8 thousands in 2005 to 10 thousands at the end of 2006.

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