Here under are Vietnam’s top ten events in 2011 ed by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)
2. Elections on the largest ever scale:
On May 22, for the first time, Vietnam held the elections of deputies to the 13th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2011-2016 term in the same day. The success of the elections was an important progress in the process of building, consolidating and perfecting a socialist law-governed state.
Ha Nhi ethnic voters at the polling station No. 1 in Hua Bum Commune, Muong Te District, Lai Chau Province. Photo: VNA |
3. Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues:
On October 11, in Beijing, Vietnam and China signed an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, defining principles guiding the settlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful solutions, on the basis of international law and taking into account the interests of concerned parties. Earlier, in May and June 2011, China had several actions violating the sovereignty and jurisdiction rights over Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone in the East Sea.
On October 11, 2011, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has a talk with Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Hu Jintao during his official visit to China. Photo: VNA |
4. Inflation control and economic restructuring:
With the implementation of the Party and State’s decisive policies with top priority given to curbing inflation, stabilising the macro economy and ensuring social welfare, Vietnam capped inflation at 18.12 percent and attained a GDP growth rate of 5.8 percent in 2011. At its third meeting in Hanoi from October 6-10, the 11th Party Central Committee decided to boost economic restructuring in combination with renewal in the growth model on a sustainable basis.
According to the latest report of the General Statistics Office, the agricultural, forestry and aquatic production in 2011 is estimated to increase 5.2% over the previous year, in which agriculture increases 4.8%, forestry increases 5.7% and aquatic products increases 6.1%. In the photo: Processing Tra fish for export at South Vina (Can Tho). Photo: VNA |
5. Campaign to bring home more than 10,000 workers from Libya:
In the face of political instabilities in Libya, from February 23 to April 4, Vietnam brought home over 10,000 workers safely from Libya. Most workers returned home through the largest ever “air bridge”.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan receives the workers from Libya at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi). Photo: VNA |
6. First under river tunnel opens to traffic:
On November 20, the Thu Thiem tunnel, the first under river in Vietnam and the most modern in Southeast Asia, and the entire East-West Highway opened to traffic. The tunnel is 1,490m long, 33m wide and 9m high and has six lanes. The operation of the tunnel and the highway will help boost socio-economic development of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the country in general.
Vehicles cross Thu Thiem Tunnel. Photo: VNA |
7. The Citadel of Ho Dynasty and Xoan singing honoured by UNESCO:
On June 27, in Paris, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognised the Citadel of Ho Dynasty in Vinh Loc District, the central province of Thanh Hoa , as a word cultural heritage. On November 24, in Bali (Indonesia), UNESCO approved a decision to recognise Xoan singing, a vocal art of villages in the ancestral land of Phu Tho, as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent protection. To date, Vietnam has 16 heritages recognised by UNESCO.
The southern gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel with the middle door being 8m high and 5.8m wide, and the side doors being 7.8m high and 5m wide. Photo: VNA |
8. Vietnam records high achievements at SEA Games 26:
At the 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 26) held in Indonesia, the Vietnamese sports team bagged 288 medals, including 96 gold medals, ranking third in the metal tally. However, the men’s U23 football squad failed to win any medal at this Games, making their fans disappointed.
Swimming athlete Hoang Quy Phuoc wins two gold medals at SEA Games 26, breaking a SEA Games record. Photo: VNA |
9. Hand-foot-mouth disease spreads out:
In 2011, the hand-foot-mouth disease spread through all 63 cities and provinces nationwide with more than 90,000 cases. Over 150 of them, mostly children died. The disease had great impacts on the lives of people and raised worries in the society.
Children infected with hand-foot-mouth disease receive treatment at Bac Lieu Province’s General Hospital. Photo: VNA |
10. Serious floods in the Mekong Delta:
Due to climate change impacts, from October to early November 2011, the Mekong Delta region experienced the biggest flooding over the past decade, which killed 85 people and caused a property loss of over 4 trillion VND.
Flood in Long An Province. Photo: VNA |