Coastal provinces to launch new islands tour

The tourism authorities of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces plan to launch a tour combining islands and inland destinations to further build on their reputation as the land of heritage sites.

Viet Nam rolls out ‘green' lighting

Viet Nam plans to light up more city streets and use energy-saving public lighting within 15 years. Under the country's urban lighting development plan to 2025, recently approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, all streets in Viet Nam's 12 biggest cities and major streets in 56 second-and-third-class cities with a population of 10,000 or more will be illuminated.

Aquatic plants to help clean lakes

Ha Noi authorities plan to encourage the growth of water plants in the city's lakes to offset chronic pollution. The biological approach to purifying the capital's lakes has received a positive response from the municipal People's Committee, said Professor Duong Duc Tien, director of the Biology Technology for Life Centre.

Denmark further supports Mekong countries’ environmental protection

Denmark, the Mekong River Commission’s largest donor, has committed a grant of 10 million Danish Kroner (about US$1.9 million) to the MRC Environment Program to support Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Unplanned mining threatens geopark's appeal

Unplanned stone mining is denigrating the beauty of the Dong Van Stone Highlands, Vietnam’s first UNESCO-recognized geopark, local newspaper Tuoi Tre reported.

Heavy polluter in city ready to move to outskirts

Saigon Tobacco Company in HCMC’s District 5 as one of the seven black-listed manufacturing polluters in inner-city areas will move to the outskirts this month while two more on the list are also preparing their relocation plans, an official said.

Company gold exploitation cuts Dakrong River into small bits

The Construction Limited Company No.9 has made the Dakrong River deformed since it was licensed to exploit gold in the Dakrong District, the central province of Quang Tri in November.

APF meets in Hanoi for climate change

Vietnam needs active support from the francophone community in sharing experiences in institutional mechanism, solutions and resources to cope with climate change and to establish a mechanism for the exchange of parliamentary information on sustainable development and climate change between Vietnam and France.

Many countries commit to helping Vietnam in developing low carbon economy

Northern Europe countries and Japan had undertaken to choose Vietnam to pilot the programs to develop low carbon economy, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said at a press conference on December 14.

Vietnam raises regional response to climate change

As ASEAN Chair in 2010, Vietnam has proposed ASEAN Initiatives and highlighted ASEAN views on climate change at the 16 th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico, said a senior environmental official.