Vietnam seeks assistance from other countries to help develop its mountainous regions in a sustainable manner. The Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Affairs met with delegates from France and other countries at the World Mountain Forum to discuss increasing cooperation on protecting natural resources and developing mountainous areas. The forum adopted a resolution calling on countries with forests and mountains to raise awareness of sustainable development in mountain regions.

1. 1
INTRODUCTION
TRANSLATION 4 is a basic course book written for the second-year students of the
Department of English, College of Foreign Languages, Hue University. It is intended to equip the
students with an overview of translating Vietnamese and English economic texts. It also helps the
students get familiar with the terms related to economy as well as the typical structures
frequently used in economic texts.
Since the course book has been written for the students to learn either by themselves or in class
with a teacher, there will be a course book and assignments. The course book contains the
Vietnamese and English economic texts with notes and suggested translations. The assignments
contain the Vietnamese and English economic texts that will be translated into either English or
Vietnamese by the students.
By the end of the course, the students will be able to:
- obtain general knowledge of the Vietnamese and English economic documents.
- get familiar with and effectively use scientific and technological terms and typical structures
of economic texts in their translations.
- accurately translate economic texts into English and Vietnamese.
On the completion of this course book, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Ton Nu
Nhu Huong for her encouragement. I would also like to be grateful to Dr. Tran Van Phuoc and
other colleagues of the College of Foreign Languages for their kind help.
Errors are unavoidable in this course book. Therefore, I appreciate and welcome any criticism on
the course book.
Hue, November 14th, 2006
Nguyen Van Tuan

2. 2
Chapter 1: GENERAL ECONOMIC ISSUES
Lesson 1: REFORESTATION AN UPHILL BATTLE IN
MOUNTAINOUS TAY NGUYEN
Tay Nguyen- the authorities and people in Tay Nguyen (the Western Highlands) have a battle on
their hand to protect and restore forests that have been relentlessly chopped down.
Spread over nearly 55,000sq.km, the forests in these regions are the country‟s largest. Actually
covering 2.93 million ha, it is 230,000 ha less than five years ago. Of the four Tay Nguyen
provinces, Dac Lac is the one with the largest wooded area and also the one losing the most
canopy each year an average of 40,000 ha.
The reason for losing the provinces‟ “lung” is not hard to find- the inexorable emigration of
people to these areas from the rest of the country since 1990. The population growth in these
provinces has been a stagering5 to 6 per cent every year. And Dac Lac alone houses 2,200
migrants.
With the influx came the usual accompanying problems: pressure on forestland for housing,
cultivating and fuel.
Another reason has been the creased cultivation of commercial crops like coffee, pepper, and
rubber. The total area under these has risen to 567,000 ha- double the 1996 figure.
But the government has become aware of the havoc that denudation of the forest cover could
wreak.
“Tay Nguyen is seen as a common roof for the Central and South-eastern areas, but the region‟s
forests is enduring serious damage, illegal wood exploitation remains a headache, and the
environment is under great threat,” said Prime Minister Han Van Khaki when speaking about the
region‟s development.
He exhorted the Taiyo Nguyen provinces to keep a close eye on forest protection and
development, and set targets for the next five years to increase the area under forest cover in a bid
to ensure sustainable socio-economic development.

3. 3
The provincial authorities too have begun to get their act together. In ADC Lac, for instance,
billions of dong has been invested in aforestation activities under Programmes 327 and 661 and
the total reforested has reached about 10,000 ha.
But the figure is still minuscule when juxtaposed with the more than 200,000 ha that have been
felled since 1995.
Under the socio- economic development scheme for the 2001-05 period, Tay Nguyen‟s provinces
have earmarked over 2.93million ha of existing forest areas for protection while reforesting
500,000 ha, so that the total forest cover would reach 64.3 per cent by 2005, an increase of 10 per
cent over the current figure.
To reach the goal through, the provinces need to raise awareness among the population, innovate
sustainable products and manufacturing methods and improve forest management and protection.
The forest plantation and communal forest management departments should be further
strengthened while economic sectors and households should be urged to take an active part in
protecting and managing forest areas.
At the moment some areas in Dac Lac Province have been moving in that direction and local
residents have proven willing to protect and develop forest areas to which they are given
possession rights.
Notes:
- battle : trËn chiÕn
- to be chopped down : bÞ ®èn, bÞ chÆt
- emigration : di c-
- commercial crop: n«ng s¶n hµng ho¸
- to become aware of : ý thøc ®-îc
- sustainable : bÒn v÷ng
- to be strengthened : ®-îc t¨ng c-êng
Suggested Translation :
TRÄÖNG RÆÌNG ÅÍ CAÏC TÈNH MIÃÖN NUÏI TÁY NGUYÃN ÂANG
LAÌ MÄÜT VÁÚN ÂÃÖ KHOÏ KHÀN.
Táy Nguyãn-Chênh quyãön vaì ngæåìi dán åí Táy Nguyãn gàûp khoï khàn trong viãûc baío vãû vaì taïi taûo
nhæîng khu ræìng bë chàût phaï mäüt caïch nghiãm troüng.
Våïi diãûn têch hån 50.000 km2, nhæîng khu ræìng åí âaïy laì låïn nháút næåïc,chiãúm 2,93 ha nay chè coìn
230.000 ha, tháúp hån 5 nàm træåïc âáy.

4. 4
Lyï do máút âi “laï phäøi” cuía nhæîng tènh naìy khäng khoï tçm ra, âoï laì do sæû di truï cuía nhæîng ngæåìi
dán trong vuìng âãún nhæîng nåi khaïc. Kãø tæì nàm 1999, tyí lãû gia tàng dán säú cuía nhæîng tènh naìy tæì
5 âãún 6% mäùi màm. Âàõc Làõc coï khoaíng 2200 häü dán di truï.
Mäüt säú váún âãö khaïc âaî naíy sinh cuìng váún âãö naìy :aïp læûc âäúi våïi âáút ræìng cho viãûc xáy dæûng nhaì
cæía, träöng troüt vaì láúy gäù.
Mäüt lyï do khaïc laì gia tàng viãûc träöng cáy kinh tãú nhæ : caìfã,tiãu vaì cao su, täøng diãûn tich âaî tàng
lãn567.000 ha-gáúp âäi con säú nàm 1990.
Nhæng chênh phuí cuîng âaî nháûn thæïc âæåüc váún âãö taìn phaï naìy seî coï thãø coìn tráöm troüng hån.
“Táy Nguyãn âæåüc xem nhæ mäüt maïi nhaì chung cho caïc tènh miãön trung vaì âäng nam. Nhæng
ræìng åí âáy âang bë taìn phaï tráöm troüng, naûn khai thaïc gäù traïi pheïp váùn laì mäüt váún âãö nhæïc nhäúi,
mäi træåìng dæåïi sæû âe doüa nghiãm troüng”.thuí tæåïng chênh phuí Phan Vàn Khaíi âaî noïi khi noïi
chuyãûn vãö sæû phaït triãøn cuía nhæîng tènh naìy.
Thuí tæåïng kãu goüi caïc tènh Tay Nguyãn haîy xem troüng viãûc baío vãû vaì phaït triãøn ræìng vaì âaût ra kãú
hoaûch cho nàm nàm tåïi, âeí coï thãø tàng diãûn tich ræìng âæåüc baío vãû nhàòm duy trç âæåüc sæû phaït triãøn
kinh tãú xaî häüi.
Chênh quyãön caïc tènh cuîng âaî håüp taïc cuìng nhau. Thæûc tãú laì, haìng tyí âäöng âaî âæåüc Dàõc Làõc âáöu
tæ vaìo viãûc träöng ræìng bàòng caïc chæång trçnh 327 vaì 661 vaì täøng diãûn têch ræìng taïi taûo âaî lãn âãún
khoaíng10.000 ha.
Nhæng con säú váùn coìn ráút nhoí khi so saïnh våïi hån 200.000 ha âaî bë phaï huíy kãø tæì nàm 1995.
Dæûa vaìo så âäö phaït triãøn kinh tãú xaî häüi trong giai âoaûn 2001-2005,caïc tènh Táy Nguyãn seî âoïng
khung hån 2,93 triãûu ha diãûn têch ræìng âang coìn âãø baío vãû trong khi taïi taûo 500. 000 ha ræìng,âãø
täøng diãûn têch ræìng bao phuí coï thãø lãn tåïi 64,3% vaìo nàm 2005, tàng 10% so våïi con säú ban âáöu.
Âãø âaût âæåüc kãú hoaûch naìy, chênh quyãön caïc tènh cáön phaíi tàng cæåìng nháûn thæïc cho ngæåìi
dán,âäöng thåìi æïng duûng nhæîng phæång tiãûn måïi nhàòm caíi thiãûn cäng taïc quaín lyï vaì baío vãû ræìng.
Cäng taïc träöng ræìng cáön phaíi âæåüc quan tám hån. Nghaình kiãøm lám cáön tàng cæåìng cäng taïc baío
vãû ræìng. Caïc nghaình kinh tãú vaì caïc häü gia âçnh cáön âoïng mäüt vai troì têch cæûc hån trong viãûc quaín
lyï vaì baío vãû ræìng.
Hiãûn taûi, mäüt säú vuïng åí tènh Âàõc Làõc âaî vaì âang âi theo hæåïng væìa nãu. Chênh quyãön âëa phæång
âaî náng cao nháûn thæïc vãö viãûc baío vãû vaì phaït triãøn nhæîng khu ræìng maì hoü âaî âæåüc giao khoaïn.

5. 5
Lesson 2 : VIETNAM SEEKS ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHLANDS
DEVELOPMENTS
Hanoi - Vietnam wishes to exchange experiences and co-operate with other countries in
making its mountainous regions prosperous and stable, says Hoang Duc Nghi, Minister
and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Affairs.
Speaking at the World Mountain Forum held in French cities of Paris and Chambery last
week, Nghi said that the Vietnamese Government welcomes the UN declaration of 2002
as the International Year of Mountains.
Vietnam is facing difficulties and challenges in checking deforestation and degradation of
land resources, and is committed to pursuing areas strategy of protecting natural resources
through sustainable exploitation, he said.
Nghi met with French and other delegates and discussed measures to heighten co-
operation in the development of mountainous regions.
The forum adopted a resolution calling on 140 countries having forests and mountains in
the world to raise awareness of the important role of mountainous regions, define
orientations for sustainable development of the areas in coming years, and increase
exchange of experiences and co-operation.
The seven-day forum, jointly organized by France, the UN, EU, and the World Bank,
wrapped up on Monday.
Notes:
- stable : æn ®Þnh
- to face : ®-¬ng ®µu
- challenge : th¸ch thøc
- orientation : ®Þnh h-íng
- sustainable : ph¸t triÓn bÒn v÷ng

6. 6
Suggested Translation :
VIÃÛT NAM TÇM KIÃÚM SÆÛ GIUÏP ÂÅÎ CHO VÁÚN ÂÃÖ PHAÏT
TRIÃØN MIÃÖN NUÏI
Theo äng Hoaìng Âæïc Nghi -Træåíng ban Dán täüc vaì Miãön nuïi,Viãût nam mong muäún âæåüc
trao âäøi kinh nghiãûm vaì håüp taïc våïi caïc næåïc baûn nhàòm taûo sæû phaït triãøn thënh væåüng vaì
væîng chàõc åí miãön nuïi.
Phaït biãøu taûi diãùn âaìn thãú giåïi vãö miãön nuïi täø chæïc åí thaình phäú Pa-ri vaì Chàm-bå-ri cuía
Phaïp tuáön væìa qua, äng Nghi noïi ràõng Chênh phuí Viãût Nam ráút hoan nghãnh cäng bäú cuía
Liãn Hiãûp Quäúc coi nàm 2002 laì nàm “Thãú giåïi vç miãön nuïi”.
Äng Nghi cuîng nháún maûnh thãm, Viãût nam âang âäúi màût våïi nhiãöu khoï khàn vaì thæí thaïch
nhæ naûn phaï ræìng bæìa baîi, tçnh traûng thoaïi hoïa taìi nguyãn âáút, cuîng nhæ viãûc kiãn trç trong
chiãún læåüc vaì khai thaïc mäüt caïch håüp lyï caïc nguäön taìi nguyãn thiãn nhiãn.
Cuîng trong chuyãún âi naìy, äng Nghi âaî gàûp vaì thaío luáûn våïi phaïi âoaìn Phaïp vaì caïc phaïi
âoaìn khaïc nhàòm tçm ra giaíi phaïp tàng cæåìng håüp taïc våïi nhau vç sæû phaït triãøn chung cuía
miãön nuïi.
Häüi thaío âaî thäúng nháút kãu goüi 140 næåïc trãn thãú giåïi coï ræìng nuïi cáön nháûn thæïc roî vai troì
quan troüng cuía miãön nuïi, âäöng thåìi âënh roî hæåïng phaït triãøn cuîng nhæ viãûc tàng cæåìng
trao âäøi kinh nghiãûm vaì håüp taïc giæîa caïc næåïc trong nhæîng nàm tåïi.
Phaïp, Liãn Hiãûp Quäúc, khäúi Cäüng Âäöng Cháu Áu vaì ngán haìng thãú giåïi âäöng täø chæïc häüi
thaío diãùn ra trong 7 ngaìy vaì kãút thuïc vaìo thæï Hai.

7. 7
Lesson 3 : ADB ASSISTANCE TO HELP FIGHT POVERTY,
CREATE MORE JOBS
Hanoi - Continued assistance from the Asian Development Bank will play an important role in
poverty alleviation, especially in creating more employment, says Deputy Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung.
Receiving visiting ADB executive director Jeung-Hyun Yoon in Hanoi yesterday, Dung lauded
the valuable assistance that the Manila-based bank has rendered to the nation‟s economic
reforms, rural development, human resource development and environmental protection.
The ADB has pledged loans worth US$2 billion since 1993 for 29 projects and preferential loan
programmes, of which $76 million is non-refundable, he noted.
Dung expressed his hope that the ADB will continue offering effective assistance for the
country‟s reform programmes including the ongoing restructuring of State-owned enterprises and
renovation of the financial and banking sectors.
The ADB official said he was delighted to be visiting Vietnam at a time when its economy was
registering strong improvements.
He briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on the results of his one- week visit, saying it aimed to
strengthen co-operation in lending and borrowing operations through exchange of information
and assessment of the bank‟s operations in the country. Yoon also expressed his desire to see
further development in Vietnam-ADB relations and pledged to co-ordinate more actively among
sponsors in finding investment on preferential terms.
Notes:
- the Asian Development Bank : Ng©n hµng Ph¸t triÓn Ch©u ¸
- play an important role : ®ãng mét vai trß quan träng
- poverty alleviation : xo¸ ®ãi gi¶m nghÌo
- executive director : gi¸m ®ãc ®iÒu hµnh
- human resource development : ph¸t triÓn nguån nh©n lùc
- preferential loan programmes : ch-¬ng tr×nh cho vay -u ®·i
-- effective assistance : sù gióp ®ì cã hiÖu qu¶
- reform program: ch-¬ng tr×nh c¶i c¸ch

8. 8
- State-owned enterprise : doanh nghiÖp nhµ n-íc
Suggested Translation :
SÆÛ TRÅÜ GIUÏP CUÍA ADB SEÎ GIUÏP CHÄÚNG ÂOÏI NGHEÌO VAÌ
TAÛO THÃM VIÃÛC LAÌM
Trong buäøi tiãúp Giaïm âäúc âiãöu haình Ngán haìng phaït triãøn Cháu AÏ (ADB) Jeung-Hyun Yoon
ngaìy häm qua taûi Haì Näüi, Phoï Thuí Tæåïng næåïc ta Nguyãùn Táún Duîng âaî phaït biãøu ràòng sæû tiãúp
tuûc tråü giuïp cuía ADB seî âoïng mäüt vai troì quan troüng trong viãûc xoïa âoïi giaím ngheìo, âàûc biãût laì
taûo thãm nhiãöu cäng àn viãûc laìm. Phoï Thuí Tæåïng cuîng caïm ån sæû giuïp âåî quyï baïu cuía ADB coï
truû såí taûi Manila, Phi-lip-pin trong caíi caïch kinh tãú, phaït triãøn näng thän, phaït triãøn nguäön læûc con
ngæåìi vaì baío vãû mäi træåìng.
Ngán haìng phaït triãøn Cháu AÏ âaî hæïa cho Viãût Nam vay khoaín vay trë giaï 2 tè âä la Myî tæì nàm
1993 cho 29 dæû aïn vaì caïc chæång trçnh vay æu âaîi trong âoï coï 76 triãûu âä la khäng hoaìn laûi.
Phoï Thuí Tæåïng Nguyãùn Táún Duîng baìy toí hy voüng ràòng ADB seî tiãúp tuûc tråü giuïp mäüt caïch coï
hiãûu quaí cho caïc chæång trçnh caíi caïch âáút næåïc bao gäöm viãûc caíi täø caïc xê nghiãûp quäúc doanh
âang diãùn ra vaì âäøi måïi caïc chi nhaïnh taìi chênh vaì ngán haìng.
Äng Jeung-Hyun Yoon âaî phaït biãøu noïi lãn niãöm vui âæåüc âãún thàm Viãût Nam vaìo thåìi âiãøm maì
nãön kinh tãú Viãût Nam âaî vaì âang âaût âæåüc nhæîng tiãún bäü maûnh meî. Äng cuîng baïo caïo våïi Phoï
Thuí Tæåïng kãút quaí cuía mäüt tuáön viãúng thàm Viãût Nam cuía äng vaì nháún maûnh ràòng âoï laì nhàòm
tàng cæåìng håüp taïc trong lénh væûc vay vaì cho vay thäng qua viãûc trao âäøi thäng tin vaì âaïnh giaï vãö
hoaût âäüng cuía caïc ngán haìng Viãût Nam.
Äng Yoon baìy toí mong æåïc ràòng mäúi quan hãû giæîa Viãût Nam vaì Ngán haìng phaït triãøn Cháu AÏ
seî phaït triãøn hån næîa vaì hæïa seî håüp taïc têch cæûc hån våïi caïc nhaì taìi tråü trong viãûc tçm kiãúm nguäön
âáöu tæ vaìo caïc lénh væûc æu tiãn.

9. 9
Lesson 4 : POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
STRUCTURE
Viet Nam is a socialist republic furnished with a constitution since 1980 and based on a tripartite
political structure: the Communist Party of Vietnam, the people and the State. A characteristic
feature is the very important place occupied by the Party, which waged the liberation struggles
leading to the independence of North Viet Nam in 1954 and then to the reunification of the
country in 1975.
The Party, whose best known bodies are the Political Bureau, the Secretariat, the Central
Committee and the Congress, conducts the affairs of the country. It draws up the lists of
candidates for general elections from which delegates to the National Assembly are chosen; the
Assembly in turn elects the members of the Council of Ministers which appoints ministers to
head the ministries.
The party provides the leaders of the very active mass organizations which form the front for the
Fatherland and cover all sections of the population: labour, trade unions, Association of
Collective Farmers, Union of Women, Union of Youth, Union of Intellectuals, Union of
Catholics, and Union of Buddhists.
The administrative matters are carried out in four-tiered structure from the central level, down
through the 44 provinces, and the 519 districts to the 9,807 communes at the grassroots level.
Planning
Viet Nam's overall planning system is centralized, but there is flexibility in development
planning, investment programming, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
sectoral projects. At central level, development policies are determined by the State Council and
Council of Ministers with the State Planning Commission providing technical guidance.
The State Planning Commission (SPC), as the technical arm of the Council of Ministers, plays
the leading role in national planning, investment programming, budget allocation and monitoring
of socio-economic development trends and sectoral performance. It coordinates plans for
donor assistance and identifies priority programmes for intervention, in collaboration with the
line ministries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Committee for Foreign Investment and
Cooperation, State Committee for Science, Committee on Aid Reception and the People's
Committees. The SPC formulates mid-term and annual investment plans and prepares the
relevant budgets for approval by the Council of Ministers. CERFC, the aid co-ordination
committee, works closely with SPC to identify government policies, plans and priorities.

10. 10
The General Statistics Office (GSO), also under the Council of Minister is responsible for
coordinating population censuses as well as the collection of statistics on socio-economic
development and the situation of children and women. The GSO provides information and
data support to the SPC for planning and programming purposes.
Decentralized development and planning
Under recent reforms, planning has been decentralized giving the sectoral implementing
ministries and peoples' committees at provincial, district and commune level, the freedom to
define their priorities and plans, subject to centrally-issued guidelines. In line with this
policy, sectoral planning units were established in the Social Sector ministries. Furthermore,
almost all the provinces and districts have established planning units which provide planning
and technical support to the Peoples Committees. The local government units are authorized
to utilize locally generated revenues and income to finance and implement their planned
programmes without relying on central government resources. This initiative can lead to
greater participation of the local government units in the delivery of basic services for
children and women. The area based development model can be applied to accelerate basic
services and enhance capacity in local planning, monitoring and evaluation. At the same time,
community interventions which would improve the living condition of women and their
families such as low cost appropriate technology, income generation, growth monitoring, etc.,
can be piloted in specific provinces or districts. However, the professional staff manning the
planning units need to be trained to widen their skills in management, planning and
monitoring activities.
Notes:
- political structure : thÓ chÕ chÝnh trÞ
- to be furnished with : ®-îc trang bÞ
- liberation : sù gi¶i phãng
- reunification : sù thèng nhÊt
- Political Bureau : Bé ChÝnh TrÞ
- Central Committee : Uû Ban Trung ¦¬ng, Ban BÝ Th-
Trung ¦¬ng
- general election : tæng tuyÓn cö
- National Assembly : Quèc Héi
- Council of Ministers : Héi §ång Bé Tr-ëng
- the Front for the Fatherland : MÆt TrËn Tæ Quèc
- Association of Collective Farmers : Héi N«ng D©n TËp ThÓ
- to be centralized : tËp trung
- State Planning Commission : Uû Ban KÕ Ho¹ch Nhµ N-íc

11. 11
- budget allocation : viÖc ph©n bæ ng©n s¸ch
- priority programme : ch-¬ng tr×nh -u tiªn
- in collaboration with : cã liªn quan ®Õn
- State Commitee for Science : Uû Ban Khoa Häc Nhµ N-íc
- Committee on Aid Reception : Ban TiÕp NhËn ViÖn Trî
- The General Statistics Office : Côc Thèng Kª
- locally generated revenue : ng©n s¸ch ®Þa ph-¬ng
- to be challenged : bÞ thö th¸ch, bÞ th¸ch thøc
- data deficiency : thiÕu hôt sè liÖu
Lesson 5 : THE ECONOMY, AGRICULTURE & FOOD
PRODUCTION
The Vietnamese economy is challenged by a number of development issues including
population growth, employment and wage levels, balance of payment deficits and inflation.
However, analysis of economic development in Viet Nam is constrained by the lack of
official statistics. Many are out of date by the time they are published. An attempt to remedy
this data deficiency has been under way for some time, and has recently resulted in the
publication of preliminary census estimates in April 1990. The State Planning Commission
and General Statistics Office in collaboration with the relevant ministries have been trying to
update the socio-economic data related to the development of the vulnerable groups and the
country's economic situation in general.
Trends in economic development and policy reforms
The economic and social development of Viet Nam has to be viewed in the context of the
long period of war which has caused great damage to people's lives and property as well as to
public facilities and resources. The war consequences and subsequent period of recon-
struction full of diff iculties has clearly been an overriding constraint to the development of
children and other vulnerable groups.
In the transition period after reunification, the nation endeavoured to develop with its own
limited resources. An agricultural collective programme was set up throughout the country.
Private trade and commerce were terminated and taken over by government-run entities.
Collective small handicrafts programmes were introduced. In the manufacturing sector,
strong emphasis was put on the development of heavy industries. However, the country's

12. 12
economy did not prosper. Food shortages, coupled with deficient basic services were felt
nation-wide. Children and mothers bore the consequences and the malnutrition prevalence
was high.
Despite attempts at economic reform in the early 1980s, Vietnam continued to buy
agricultural products abroad as the agricultural sector production declined. The few consumer
goods produced in the country were not sufficient to meet requirements as the manufacturing
sector was inefficient and constrained by inadequate infrastructure. Government revenues
dried up, eroding the State's ability to subsidize staples and the provision of basic services to
the public. The Government was forced to issue more banknotes, augmenting money supply.
The result was high inflation which in turn caused the economy to deteriorate further.
In December 1986, the Sixth Party Congress convened and set in motion a new policy
advocating "Doi moi", or renovation of the domestic economy. A five-year development plan
(1986-1990) was adopted with three major priorities, namely: to increase agricultural
production and attain self-sufficiency in food; to increase the availability and production of
consumer goods and to increase exports. These core economic reforms were addressed
comprehensively at different levels of production, processing, distribution and consumption.
A new investment law was passed to attract foreign investment. The economic liberalization
programme represented an attempt to solve constraints on a broad range of fronts, and was
accompanied by changes in various areas of country's social life.
The policy changes had some stimulating effects on production. In the farm sector, the
weather happened to be favourable in 1989, enabling grain production to recover, while the
manufacturing sector was on the mend. Industrial policy encouraged the development of
small industries while the agriculture sector remains a priority.
The multiple pricing system was gradually done away with, in favour of a single market
price. Trade in other products has been liberalized. The economic situation improved to some
extent in 1989. Inflation cooled substantially (see figure 11.1), although the commodity retail
price increase rate was still around 3-4 percent a month. Rice export earnings partly solved
the foreign exchange crisis and food shortages were reduced. Domestic trade and commerce
activities speeded up. In certain sector foreign investment operations in the country started.
Priority has been given to foreign investment projects which will benefit the three major areas
of development as well as improve the infrastructure and institutional development.
Notes:
- wage level : møc l-¬ng
- out of date : lçi thêi
- relevant ministry : bé cã liªn quan
- socio-economic data : sè liÖu vÒ kinh tÕ x· héi

13. 13
- to cause damage to : g©y thiÖt h¹i
- context of war : hoµn c¶nh chiÕn tranh
- transition period : thêi kú qu¸ ®é
- to be taken over : ®-îc tiÕp qu¶n
- manufacturing sector : bé phËn s¶n xuÊt
- food shortage : sù thiÕu hôt l-¬ng thùc
- malnutrition : suy dinh d-ìng
- economic reform : c¶i c¸ch kinh tÕ
- consumer goods : hµng tiªu dïng
- to subsidize : bao cÊp
- to issue : ph¸t hµnh
- Congress : §¹i Héi
- self-sufficiency : tù cung tù cÊp
- core : chñ yÕu, quan träng
- to attract : thu hót
- multiple pricing system : hÖ thèng nhiÒu gi¸
Lesson 6 : ECONOMIC STRUCTURE
Gross Material Product (GMP)
An important feature in the development of the Vietnamese economy has been the changing
ratio of state and private ownership. Between 1976 and 1987, the state and co -operative
sector's share in the GMP rose from 58.9 to 75.0 per cent. This expansion was mainly due to
the drive for collectivization in the South. As a result, the private sector share fell from 41 to
25 per cent during the period. With the new economic policy on greater participation of th e
private sector, particularly in manufacturing, trade and transport, the private sector share rose
to 28 percent and the state and co-operative contribution declined from 75 to 72 per cent in
1988.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The GDP average growth rate was 3.4 per cent from 1984 to 1988. In 1989 with the economic
reforms, plus surplus food production and a slight increase of output in industry, trade and
commerce, a more positive economic growth of 5.7 per cent was attained. It is expected to
reach 8 per cent in 1990. Per capita income is still low, having increased from US$1 14.00 in
1985 to approximately US$150200 in 1989.

14. 14
The 1988 GDP sectoral shares were agriculture 39.2 percent, industry 27.4 per cent,
commerce 11.8 per cent, transportation and communication and construction 2.0 per cent
each and other services 11.0 per cent.
Under the economic reform process, agricultural sector development is the main core of the
programme. It provides a livelihood for two thirds of the total labour force, and accounts
for 30 per cent of export earnings. Official data indicates that 53 per cent of agriculture
output is produced by individual farmers, 45 per cent by co-operatives, and 2 per cent by
state farms.
Industrial output is produced by state enterprises (more than 50 per cent), co-operatives
(more than 25 per cent) and by individuals (16 percent). There are 700 state enterprises,
engaged mainly in heavy industry. The provincial and district authorities control 2,300 light
industries. Co-operatives are dominant in small scale industries and individuals in
handicrafts.
Overall industrial output grew at an average annual rate of 10 per cent between 1984 and
1988, but heavy industry only recorded a 6 per cent annual rise, reflecting mixed
development initiatives. Light industry increased over 10 per cent annually with high
production rates of tea, salt, sugar, porcelain, and some export goods. However, some
locally produced goods (i.e. beer, matches, and cigarettes) could hardly compete with
imports which increased following the reduction in bordertensions and the introduction of
more liberal trading policies.
Vietnam is endowed with rich sources of energy, the major ones being the Quang Ninh coal
mine area, off-shore oil and gas fields in the south. In addition, the Mekong and Red rivers
have high potential for hydro-electric development. At present hydro-electric power
accounts for 25.7 per cent of the total power generated in the country (1988), and it has now
increased with the development of the Hoa Binh hydro-electric power plant which provides
rural electricity. The forest resources need to be developed and studied as they could be a
good source of energy in the future. Firewood currently constitutes the main source of fuel
for households in rural areas. Coal production is around 6-7 million tons per year and has
been growing gradually during the decade. The average yearly production of electricity was
almost 7 million KWh., 66 per cent thermo-electric. The per capita energy consumption is
fairly low at 109.1 KWh of electricity and 108.3 kilogrammes of coal (1988 figures).
The transport, communication and construction share in GDP has been insignificant.
This is a reflection of the low investment and monopoly by the state enterprises and
cooperatives. Under utilization of roads, railways, airports and harbours is also due to poor
maintenance and management.

15. 15
Commerce accounts for about 12 per cent of GDP, with 60 per cent coming from sales of
agricultural products, the remainder being industrial and handicraft goods. In 1987 one
quarter of retail sales were estimated to be through the free market.

16. 16
Notes:
- private ownership : quyÒn së h÷u t- nh©n
- Gross Domestic Product : Tæng s¶n phÈm quèc néi
- per capita : tÝnh theo ®Çu ng-êi
- commerce : th-¬ng m¹i
- to compete with : c¹nh tranh víi
- to be endowed with : ®-îc -u ®·i
- potential : tiÒm n¨ng
- thermo-electric : nhiÖt ®iÖn
- monopoly : ®éc quyÒn
- retail sale : b¸n lÎ
Lesson 7 : INVESTMENT
As the economy declined from 1984 to 1987, investment activities were greatly affected.
Total public investment declined from 12.7 per cent of GDP in 1984 to 5.1 per cent in 1989.
This reduction was partly caused by the government budgetary deficits and the desire to
further trim down the budget to reduce hyperinflation. In addition, foreign investment
entering the country was almost nil. However, with the economic reforms, the situation
started to improve from 1989 onwards.
Foreign Aid
The past development of Viet Nam has to some extent relied on assistance provided by
bilateral, multilateral and NGO donors. During 1987, development assistance totalled
US$148.3 million.
The funds sources were : bilateral agencies (63 per cent) with the German Democratic
Republic, Finland and Sweden as the biggest donors; multilateral agencies (31 per cent) with
UNDP, WFP and UNICEF playing leading roles; and NGOs (6 per cent).
Out of the total aid, 13 per cent went to health, 9 per cent to education, 26 per cent to population
planning, 14 per cent to humanitarian assistance, 4 per cent to science and technology and 2 per
cent for social welfare. The remainder was utilized for agriculture, natural resources, industry,
transport and communication.

17. 17
In 1988, 72 per cent of the total labour force was working in the agricultural sector, 90 per
cent of them in co-operatives. The state sector (Government and state enterprises) employed
4.3 mill ion people (15 per cent of the total labour force). The central government had about
330,000 staff on its payroll, while local government services absorbed over 1.2 million. The
private sector employed 3.6 million people or 12.5 per cent of the national labour force.
In the 1980s Vietnam sent 220,000 workers overseas, 210,000 to socialist countri es, and
10,000 to Africa and the Middle East. These numbers are expected to substantially decline
due to recent changes in Eastern Europe, thus increasing further the unemployment problems.
Wage trends and policies: In the past, the incomes of civil servants and state enterprises
employees included subsidized prices for rationed goods, subsidised housing, health,
transportation and use of otherpublic utilities. Individual contributions for pensions and social
security were minimal, as most of these expenses were financed from the national budget.
In January 1989, the Government implemented a comprehensive restructuring of the wages of
government workers with a consolidation of consumer subsidies into the nominal wage
structure. Though the minimum wage increased from 5,497 dong to 22,500 dong per month
(equivalent US$5.35), real salaries have declined substantially as a result of high inflation
between 1985-1988.
Pricing
In 1981, the Government introduced a number of measures to bring the administrativ e prices
in the North closer to the free market prices. During 1985, another price reform was initiated
to reduce price distortions and do away with subsidies at all levels of the economy.
The system of differentiated consumer prices was abolished, but the rationing system for
essential consumer goods (rice, sugar, kerosene, soap, fish sauce, and pork) was retained. The
effect was a ten fold increase in the price of rice between 1987 and 1990. The current price of
rice is 800-1,000 dongs per kilogramme depending on quality. However, social benefit items
such as electricity, water, house rent, medicines and paper are still subsidized by the
Government. Currently the pricing of agricultural and industrial goods fairly reflects actual
market prices.
Inflation rate
Between 1985 and 1988, the average annual inflation rate was almost 300 per cent. In 1986 it
reached 487 per cent. The effect of government fiscal monetary reform was to bring down the
monthly inflation rate to an average of 14.5 per cent in 1988 and only 2.3 per cent in 1989

18. 18
Fiscal development
Government revenues generated from all sources are inadequate to support the recurrent and
capital expenditures for development. Although the Government has introduced several
economic, fiscal and monetary measures, it cannot move ahead with its plans because of the
limited finance available. In 1984, the budget deficit amounted to 18 per cent of total expenditure
in 1984 and 42 per cent in 1989. To resolve the situation and carry out the planned expenditures,
financial assistance was obtained through foreign loans and grants, state banks and bonds.
A decade before 1988, the impact of the banking system on macro-economic management
and development was minimal. To encourage the system to play a more construct ive role, the
Government introduced new measures including; re-organization of the banking system;
introduction of restrictive credit policies; a new interest rate policy; and the liberalized
trading of gold in the market.
Under the pressures of a high domestic imbalance, overvalued currency, and budget deficits,
the balance of payments eroded continuously between 1984 and 1988.
During 1988, the outstanding external debt reached US$9,703 million. Of this total, 67 per
cent was in non-convertible currencies, 33 per cent in convertible currencies. More than 20
per cent of the external debt in non-convertible currencies, and 61 per cent in the convertible
currencies, is in arrears.
Notes:
- budgetary deficit : sù th©m hôt ng©n s¸ch
- multilateral : ®a ph-¬ng
- bilateral : song ph-¬ng
- social welfare : phóc lîi x· héi
- comprehensive : toµn diÖn
- administrative price : gi¸ c¶ do nhµ n-íc qu¶n lý
- to be abolished : bÞ b·i bá
- to be initiated : ®-îc khëi x-íng
- annual inflation rate : tû lÖ l¹m ph¸t h»ng n¨m
- revenue : nguån thu
- foreign loans and grants : c¸c kho¶n vay vµ viÖn trî
n-íc ngoµi
- fiscal : thuéc vÒ tµi chÝnh
- macro-economic management : sù qu¶n lý kinh tÕ vÜ m«
- restrictive credit policy : chÝnh s¸ch tÝn dông h¹n ®Þnh
- under the pressure : d-íi ¸p lùc

19. 19
- domestic imbalance : sù mÊt c©n ®èi trong n-íc
- interest rate policy : chÝnh s¸ch vÒ l·i suÊt
- non-convertible : kh«ng thÓ chuyÓn
®æi
Lesson 8: AGRICULTURE
Economic role of agriculture
The agricultural sector accounted for 38 per cent of the country's total output value, 49 per cent of
national income and 42 per cent of total exports in 1987. In 1989 agricultural exports included
food as well as industrial crops.That year, Vietnam held third place on the world rice export
market with 10-15 per cent of the total. The agricultural exports enable the delta to procure inputs
(fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) in order to maintain and increase yield and be competitive on the
international market.
Agricultural Food Production Systems
Food is produced in Viet Nam by three different, but complementary farming systems: the state,
the collective and the family. The state farms are mainly involved in cash crop production and the
development of new technologies. The collective farms are responsible for national foodstuff
production, particularly paddy. Families farm plots of land (from 300 to 1,000 square metres,
depending on the region) around the house, growing a variety of grains, fruits and vegetables and
raising livestock and fish. In 1983, the Government began encouraging distribution of land to
individual farm families for production under a contract system and the December 1986 Party
Congress confirmed the importance of family farming for food self-sufficiency. Family farming
is now recognized as the main basis for development. Families are free to sell more of their
produce at negotiated or market prices and they have become the main source of livestock, fish,
fruit and vegetables. The co-operatives have started to allocate larger plots of land to families.
However, the co-operatives remain the focal points for distribution of inputs and services, and the
collection of taxes and fees. It is generally admitted that these new initiatives have been an
incentive to food production and the appearance of more food in the markets.
Land use
About a fifth of Viet Nam's total land area of some 33 million hectares is arable: of this only 20
percent is now cultivated. About four fifths of the land cultivated is devoted to rice paddy,
particularly in the delta areas. However, yields are low: two thirds of the Mekong delta produce
only one crop a year.
Half of the cultivated land lies in the long and narrow coastal strip and the highland. This region,
which covers 89 per cent of the country's total land area and contains 58 per cent of the population,
has great potential for further agricultural expansion but investment costs would be high as the
infrastructure is currently weak.

20. 20

21. 21
Production and Yields
Rice represents 86-88 per cent of the total food crop production. From 1976 to 1989, the per hectare
paddy yield increased from 2.2 tons to 3.2 tons, which is similar to the average yield of other Asian
developing countries.
The other food crops (maize, cassava, Irish and sweet potatoes, soybeans, groundnuts and other
staple foods) have yielded an average of two tons per hectare since 1984.
The main constraints to improvements in crop yield are the lack of fertilizers (currently the lowest
in Asia), insufficient pesticides due to a shortage of foreign exchange; problems with the seed
multiplication system; inequities in the geographical distribution of agricultural supplies (the North
is highly privileged and the central areas deprived); lack of spare parts and poor maintenance of
farm equipment; inappropriate machinery for family farm use.
Production
From 1976 to 1989, total food production increased to 7.9 million tons. The food production
increase from 1976 to 1981 was due to an extension of the cultivated paddy area, but from 1981 to
1989 it was due to an improvement in the rice yield. At the same time, the area of cultivation of
other food crops has not increased significantly. It appears that the food policy in V iet Nam has
emphasized paddy, while rather neglecting support for other food crops so their production growth
has been irregular. This irregularity is an element of food insecurity and an indicator of structural
difficulties in managing production factors.
Vietnamese agriculture is thus becoming virtually a rice monoculture creating a monotonous and
high starch diet for the population and aggravating the potential risks of natural disasters and pest
hazards.
Half of the cultivated land lies in the long and narrow coastal strip and the highland. This
region, which covers 89 per cent of the country's total land area and contains 58 percent of
the population, has great potential for further agricultural expansion but investment costs
would be high as the infrastructure is currently weak.
Geographical variations in food production
Food production varies from one province to the next. The Mekong delta is a grain surplus area,
while the Red River delta and central regions are traditionally grain deficient. The production of
roots and tubers tends to be concentrated in the northern, central and coastal provinces (cassava
and sweet potatoes) and in some provinces of the Red River delta (Irish potatoes).

22. 22
Food availability
The per capita food availability figure is a theoretical measurement of food supply, calculated by
dividing the total food produced by the number of inhabitants. In Viet Nam the figure is given in
terms of rice paddy and all secondary food crops such as maize, cassava, potatoes, sesame,
soybeans and groundnuts are given an equivalent value. Pulses and oilseeds are not included, but
nor is any allowance made for post-harvest losses, seeds or milling so the figure may be slightly
overestimated.
A theoretical food availability of 300 kilogrammes of paddy per year can be roughly estimated at
1,600 calories per person per day. However, according to food consumption surveys, basic
foodstuffs represent 85 percent of the total calorie intake, so the food availability of 300
kilogrammes gives a potential 1,840 calories per person per day. But this is still 260 calories
below the accepted requirement, so the country can hardly be termed self-sufficient until the food
availability figure reaches 340 kilogrammes of paddy per person per year. Moreover, the national
average value does not take regional variations into account. These are particularly significant in
Viet Nam where the distribution and transportation infrastructure is weak.
From 1983 to 1986, the food availability was around 300 kilogrammes paddy. In 1987, food
production decreased due to typhoons, floods and rice pests and there were estimated to be only
280 kilogrammes paddy-equivalent/per year per inhabitant, covering only 82 per cent of the
energy requirement. The central provinces experienced severe shortages that year. In 1988, the
harvest was much better, so production reached 307 kilogrammes paddy per inhabitant. In 1989,
growth was maintained, surpassing the population growth rate for the first time. The food
availability figure was given as 310 kilogrammes. It would have been 332 kilogrammes if the 1.4
millions of rice had not been exported. The spectacular progress in 1988 and 1989 was due to
increases in the paddy yield. Indeed with great dependency on rice, the Vietnamese diet has
become more and more monotonous and unbalanced. Thus the quantitative and qualitative
insufficiency of the food production is a basic factor of malnutrition in Vietnam.
Inter household distribution of energy intake
A survey undertaken by the National Institute of Nutrition of 1,251 households, showed that 9
percent were experiencing starvation (below 1,500 calories per person per day), 15 per cent
suffered from food shortages (1,500-1,800 calories per person per day), and 23 per cent were in a
more or less satisfactory situation (1,800-2,100 kcal) and 54 per cent had over 2,100 kcal/day,
considered satisfactory.
The energy availability distribution varies widely from one region to another. The central region
experiences serious food shortages with 34 per cent of the households in the northern central
provinces and 20 percent in the south central province consuming less than 1,800 calories per
person per day. This is where the food situation requires urgent intervention.

23. 23
There are also seasonal variations in food consumption. Just before the rice harvest calories
intake decreases by up to 15 per cent. Given the very low normal intakes, even a slight decrease
can lead to starvation as happened during the bad harvest year of 1987. An additional factor
causing temporary food shortages is the weather : the central provinces, particularly, often suffer
from floods and typhoons which destroy harvests and food stores.
National and regional food consumption patterns
Rice is the main staple food in all regions of Viet Nam. Other staples are little consumed.
The quantity of pulses and oilseeds (sesame) in a meal is very low. The consumption of milk,
eggs, sugar and fruit is also low nationwide. An average of only 18 grammes of meat per day is
consumed. Vietnamese, especially those living in the southern central and Mekong delta
provinces, derive more protein from fish and sea products. Vegetable consumption is
sufficient overall, but with important regional variations; twice as many are consumed in the
northern mountains as in the Mekong Delta. The Vietnamese diet contains very little fat; the
lipid intake is believed said to be one of the lowest in the world.
Notes:
- to account for : chiÕm
- output : n¨ng suÊt, ®Çu ra
- industrial crop : c©y c«ng nghiÖp
- to be involved in : dÝnh lÝu ®Õn, cã
liªn quan ®Õn
- cash crop : n«ng s¶n hµng ho¸
- contract system : chÕ ®é kho¸n
- plot of land : thöa ®Êt
- It is admitted that : ng-êi ta thõa nhËn
r»ng
- to be cultivated : ®-îc canh t¸c
- one crop a year : s¶n xuÊt 1 n¨m 1 vô
- coastal strip : vïng ®Êt duyªn h¶i
- expansion : sù më réng/sù ph¸t triÓn
- paddy yield : n¨ng suÊt lóa
- cassava : c©y s¾n ( m×)
- sweet potato : khoai lang
- seed multiplication system : hÖ thèng/c¬ së nh©n
gièng
- spare part : phô tïng
- maintenance : b¶o d-ìng/b¶o tr×

24. 24
- extension : sù më réng
- to emphasize : chó träng
- food crop : c©y l-¬ng thùc
- rice monoculture : ®éc canh c©y lóa

25. 25
Lesson 9: SỰ ỔN ĐỊNH VÀ PHÁT TRIỂN KINH TẾ TRONG
NHỮNG NĂM QUA
1. Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển Nông thôn yêu cầu tất cả các uỷ ban nhân dân tỉnh và thành
phố cùng các bộ liên quan duy trì việc phòng dịch nghiêm ngặt. Các địa phương được yêu cầu
quản lý chặt gia súc nhiễm bệnh và cấm buôn bán vận chuyển gia súc bị bệnh. Việc tiêu huỷ gia
súc bị bệnh được thực hiện theo các qui định của cơ quan y tế. Ông tin rằng việc tiêm phòng
đóng một vai trò quan trọng trong việc bùng phát bệnh lở mồm long móng ở Việt Nam trong
tương lai.
Notes:
- Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển Nông thôn : The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development
- uỷ ban nhân dân tỉnh: provincial people‟s committee
- duy trì: maintain
- phòng dịch nghiêm ngặt: strict prevention of the epidemic
- gia súc nhiễm bệnh: infected domestic animal/livestock
- cấm: ban/prohibit/forbid
- buôn bán vận chuyển: trade and movement
- Việc tiêu huỷ: culling
- việc tiêm phòng: vaccination
- bùng phát bệnh lở mồm long móng: foot-and-mouth outbreak
2. Năm 2005, doanh thu thương mại của điện tử Samsung đạt 233 triệu USD. Nhưng đến năm
2006, ước tính con số này là 335 triệu USD. Với phương châm chậm nhưng chắc, một dự án
liên doanh mang tên Savina (Samsung Vietnam) đã hình thành và bắt đầu hoạt động với tổng số
vốn đầu tư là 78 triệu USD. Samsung đã huy động vốn là 300 triệu USD ở nhiều lĩnh vực như
điện tử, sợi tổng hợp, nhà cho thuê. Còn những dự án khác thuộc các lĩnh vực như công nghiệp
nặng, công nghiệp chế biến và xây dựng thì vẫn đang là nghiên cứu khả thi. Hiện nay, Samsung
là nhà tài trợ lớn ở Việtnam. Ngoài việc tài trợ cho nhiều giải vô địch thể thao qui mô lớn-nhỏ,
Samsung đã cấp 1,2 triệu USD cho các chương trình học ngoại ngữ và huấn luyện thể dục.
Notes:
- doanh thu thương mại: turnover/revenue/trade returns
- đạt: reach/achieve
- ước tính: estimate
- con số: figure
- phương châm: motto/slogan
- dự án liên doanh : joint venture project
- hình thành: come into being/existence
- số vốn đầu tư : investment capital
- sợi tổng hợp: synthetic fibre
- công nghiệp chế biến : processin industry
- nghiên cứu khả thi: feasibility study

26. 26
- nhà tài trợ: sponsor
- giải vô địch thể thao: sports championship
3. Ngành sản xuất đã phát triển đáng kể trong thời kỳ tái thiết nền kinh tế của Philippines sau
Chiến tranh Thế giới thứ II. Việc kiểm soát hàng hoá nhập khẩu của chính phủ đã thúc đẩy sự
phát triển ngành công nghiệp nhẹ sản xuất các mặt hàng tiêu dùng cho thị trường trong nước. Vào
những năm 70, chính phủ đã xây dựng bốn đặc khu kinh tế nhằm tăng cường sản xuất hàng hoá
xuất khẩu. Các ngành công nghiệp trong các khu chế xuất này được khuyến khích sản xuất các
mặt hàng xuất khẩu truyền thống. Những đặc khu kinh tế này đã thu hút vốn đầu tư của nước
ngoài vào Philippines một phần nhờ vào chính sách miễn thuế cho các doanh nghiệp có vốn đầu
tư nước ngoài. Xây dựng thành công những đặc khu kinh tế này đã tạo tiền đề cho sự ra đời các
khu công nghiệp có qui mô lớn hơn. Chẳng hạn như, căn cứ hải quân Subic Bay của Mỹ trước
đây nay đã trở thành một khu thương mại-công nghiệp khổng lồ ở Manila. Một khu công nghiệp-
thương mại lớn với cơ sở hạ tầng hiện đại và được miễn thuế đã thu hút các ngành công nghiệp
sản xuất hàng xuất khẩu và đầu tư nước ngoài.
Notes:
- tái thiết nền kinh tế : reconstruction economy
- thời kỳ sau Chiến tranh Thế giới thứ II: during the post-World War II
- việc kiểm soát hàng nhập khẩu: ontrols on imports
- thúc đẩy sự phát triển : speed up/promote development
- hàng tiêu dùng: consumer goods
- thị trường trong nước: domestic/local market
- đặc khu kinh tế : special economic zone
- khu chế xuất: export-processing zone
- căn cứ hải quân: naval base
- cơ sở hạ tầng: infra-structure/facilities
- được miễn thuế: receive tax exemption
4. Việt Nam đã nổ lực duy trì sự ổn định chính trị xã hội, phát triển kinh tế và quan hệ ngoại giao
trong những năm gần đây. Những thay đổi tích cực của luật pháp đã ảnh hưởng không nhỏ đến
tình hình sản xuất, tài chính và thương mại. Nhờ nông nghiệp thích ứng với thị trường tự do nên
Việt Nam được xếp là nước xuất khẩu gạo lớn thứ hai trên thế giới sau Thái Lan. Tại Thành phố
Hồ Chí Minh và vùng phụ cận những hoạt động dịch vụ và sản xuất đã phát triển và thay đổi
nhanh chóng. Kinh tế phát triển mạnh một phần nhờ vào nguồn đầu tư vốn và công nghệ của gần
2 triệu Việt Kiều ở các nước trên thế giới. Đa số họ đã quay trở về Việt Nam để đầu tư và liên lạc
với bà con.
Notes:
- nổ lực: make every effort/try hard/seek (to do something)
- sự ổn định chính trị xã hội: socio-politic stability/control
- phát triển kinh tế và quan hệ ngoại giao: develop economic and diplomatic establishment
- thay đổi tích cực: positive change
- thích ứng: respond to/ be adapted to
- được xếp: rank
- vùng phụ cận: in the neighbourhood/vicinity
- hoạt động dịch vụ và sản xuất: manufacturing/production and service activities

27. 27
- vào nguồn đầu tư vốn: an influx of investment
5. ChØ 1 n¨m sau khi lÖnh cÊm vËn cña Mü ®-îc b·i bá, c¸c c«ng ty
n-íc gi¶i kh¸t khæng lå nh- Coca-cola, Pep si- Cola ®-îc h-ëng -u
®·i vÒ vèn, chÝnh s¸ch tiÕp thÞ vµ c¸c -u ®·i kh¸c theo luËt §Çu
T- N-íc Ngoµi, nªn c¸c c«ng ty nµy ®· dÇn dÇn th©m nhËp thÞ phÇn
cña c¸c nhà s¶n xuÊt trong n-íc. C¸c s¶n phÈm kh¸c còng r¬i vµo
hoµn c¶nh t-¬ng tù. Bia Sµi Gßn ph¶i c¹nh tranh quyÕt liÖt víi
c¸c c«ng ty bia liªn doanh víi n-íc ngoµi. C¸c nhµ s¶n xuÊt bét
giÆt trong n-íc, mÆc dï cã thÓ ®¸p øng nhu cÇu trong n-íc ®Õn n¨m
2005, nh-ng l¹i bÞ c¸c c«ng ty khæng lå nh- Procter & Gamble vµ
Unilever dån vµo thÕ bÝ.
Notes:
- lÖnh cÊm vËn : embargo
- ®-îc b·i bá: be lifted
- c«ng ty n-íc gi¶i kh¸t khæng lå: soft drink giant
- h-ëng -u ®·i: enjoy preferences
- chÝnh s¸ch tiÕp thÞ: marketing
policy
- th©m nhËp thÞ phÇn: eat into/
penetrate market shares
- theo luËt §Çu T- N-íc Ngoµi: under the Foreign
Investment Law
- c¹nh tranh quyÕt liÖt: compete fiercely
- c«ng ty bia: brewery
- nhµ s¶n xuÊt bét giÆt: detergent producer
manufacturer
- ®¸p øng nhu cÇu: meet/satisfy the
need/demand
- dån vµo thÕ bÝ: drive st/sb into the
corner
6. §Ó b¶o vÖ viÖc s¶n xuÊt trong n-íc, c¸c nhµ s¶n xuÊt trong
n-íc ®· ®Ò nghÞ víi chÝnh phñ mét sè biÖn ph¸p. Thø nhÊt, nhµ
n-íc nªn cã kÕ ho¹ch ph¸t triÓn dµnh riªng cho viÖc ®Çu t- n-íc
ngoµi vÒ l·nh vùc kinh doanh vµ ph©n bè theo vïng ®Þa lý vµ kh«ng
nªn khuyÕn khÝch ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi vµo viÖc s¶n xuÊt ra c¸c s¶n
phÈm mµ c¸c doanh nghiÖp trong n-íc cã kh¶ n¨ng s¶n xuÊt ®-îc nh-
n-íc gi¶i kh¸t, bét giÆt, giÊy vµ thuèc l¸. Thø hai, viÖc cÊp
giÊy phÐp nªn ®-îc ¸p dông cho c¸c c«ng ty liªn doanh hay c¸c
doanh nghiÖp cã vèn ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi tham gia vµo c¸c dù ¸n ®ßi
hái cã nhiÒu vèn, c«ng nghÖ cao hay s¶n xuÊt c¸c mÆt hµng xuÊt
khÈu. Thø ba, lµ nªn cã mét ®¹o luËt chèng ®èi viÖc c¹nh tranh

28. 28
kh«ng lµnh m¹nh cã thÓ dÉn ®éc quyÒn kinh doanh, ph¸ gi¸ lµm h¹i
ng-êi tiªu dïng.
Notes:
- b¶o vÖ: defend/protect
- kÕ ho¹ch ph¸t triÓn: development plan
- vÒ l·nh vùc: in the field of/ in terms of
- viÖc cÊp giÊy phÐp: issue/grant licence
- doanh nghiÖp cã vèn ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi: foreign-owned enterprise
- ®éc quyÒn kinh doanh: monopoly
- ph¸ gi¸: dumping
7. Trong tiếng Việt, từ “nước” vừa có ý nghĩa là quốc gia, vừa có ý nghĩa là nước, một liên kết về
ngôn ngữ mà mối ràng buộc càng thấy rõ ràng sau một chuyến đi thăm vùng đất phì nhiêu nhất
Việt Nam: Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long. Do phù sa bồi đắp của dòng sông Cửu Long làm phong
phú vựa lúa đầy ắp này, tượng trưng cho nguồn lương thực của cả nước cũng như phong cách
sinh hoạt kề cận sông nước của cư dân trong vùng. Đối với du khách, Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long
là một trong những địa chỉ tham quan đẹp nhất Đông Nam Á, kết hợp cái kỳ ảo của vùng sông
nước lung linh với cảnh quan đầy phấn khởi của một nền văn hoá vui tươi thể hiện qua cách sinh
hoạt của dân địa phương cùng hoạt động thương mại. Trong khi những thành phố lớn như Cần
Thơ, Mỹ Tho, Long Xuyên lập thành thế vững cho các tỉnh của Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long thì
mạng lưới kênh rạch mênh mông lại là cái duyên có một không hai của vùng này. Sinh hoạt vui
nhộn của vùng này không giống mấy với cách sinh hoạt của Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. Tuy nhiên
điều đó không có nghĩa là phải khó khăn lắm mới tới được Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long để thoát
khỏi cái ồn ào náo nhiệt của thành phố lớn nhất Miền Nam này. Chỉ mất chừng ba giờ đồng hồ
bằng xe đò trên Quốc lộ 1 là bạn là bạn đến Mỹ Tho, thủ phủ của tỉnh Tiền Giang và là điểm xuất
phát tốt cho cuộc thăm dò vùng đồng bằng này.
Notes:
- có ý nghĩa: mean/signify/carry a meaning
- liên kết về ngôn ngữ: l inguistic association/relation/tie
- càng thấy rõ ràng: recognizable
- chuyến đi thăm: journey/visit
- vùng đất phì nhiêu: rich/fertile land
- Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long: The Mekong Delta
- phù sa: silt
- phong phú : ample/rich/diversified
- vựa lúa: granary
- tượng trưng: represent/symbolize
- nguồn lương thực: source of food
- phong cách sinh : lifestyle
- kề cận sông nước: riverine/riverside
- cư dân : inhabitant
- địa chỉ tham quan: tourist destination
- kết hợp : in combination with/coupled with

29. 29
- cái kỳ ảo: marvel/miracle
- vùng sông nước lung linh: glittering water
- thể hiện: demonstrate/show/indicate/perform/express
- hoạt động thương mại: commercial activity
- lập thành thế vững: provide a vantage for
- mạng lưới kênh rạch: network of rivers and canals
- cái duyên: great boon
- có một không hai: second to none/unique
- giống: be similar to/the same as/like
- thoát khỏi: escape
- thủ phủ: capital city
- điểm xuất phát: departure point

30. 30
Suggested Translation:
Economic Stability & Development in the Past Few Years
1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has required city and provincial people‟s
committees and relevant ministries maintain strict prevention of the epidemic. Localities are
required to closely manage infected animals and ban trade and movement of infected animals.
The culling of infected animals will be implemented following the health sector‟s regulations.
Vaccination should play an important role in controlling a future foot-and-mouth outbreak in
Vietnam.
2. In 2005, trade returns of Samsung electronics reached USD 233 million. But in 2006 this
figure is estimated to be USD 335 million. With the motto of “being slow but firm”, a joint
venture project named “Savanna” (Samsung Vietnam) has come into existence and begun its
operation with a total investment capital of USD 78 million. Samsung has mobilized an
investment capital of USD 300 million in many fields such as electronics, synthetic fiber, houses
for lease. But the other projects in fields like heavy industry, processing industry and
construction are only feasibility studies. Currently in Vietnam, Samsung is a big sponsor. In
addition to financing many big and small-scale sport championships. Samsung has also granted
USD 1.2 million for foreign language study programs and gymnastic training.
3. The manufacturing sector expanded significantly during the post-World War II reconstruction
of the Philippine economy. Government controls on imports promoted the development of light
industries that produced consumer goods for the domestic market. In the 1970s the government
created four special economic zones designed to stimulate manufacturing for the export market.
Industries in these export-processing zones receive incentives to produce traditional exports. The
zones have helped to stimulate foreign investment in the Philippine economy, in part because
they are exempt from certain taxes and restrictions on foreign ownership of businesses. The
success of these zones has led to the creation of other types of special economic zones, such as
large industrial estates. Businesses receive tax exemptions and other incentives in these zones.
The former U.S. naval base at Subic Bay, for example, is now a huge industrial-commercial zone
in Manila. Its modern facilities and duty-free economic zone have attracted new export-focused
industries and foreign investment
4. Vietnam has sought to maintain socio-politic stability, develop economic and diplomatic
establishment in recent years. The positive legal changes have had a tremendous influence on the
production, financial and commercial situations. Vietnam ranked as the world‟s second-largest
rice exporter to Thailand because its agriculture responded dramatically to free market. In
manufacturing and service activities the rapid growth and change occurred in and around HCM
City. Much economic expansion was partially driven by an influx of investment and technology
from some 2 million overseas Vietnamese in many different countries worldwide, most of whom
had returned to Vietnam for their investment and contacts with their relatives.
5. Only a year after the US embargo was lifted, soft drink giants such as Coca Cola and Pepsi
Cola, which have enjoyed superior advantages in capital, marketing policies and preferences
under the Foreign Investment Law, have gradually eaten into the market shares of local
producers. Other products are also in the same situation. Saigon Beer has to compete fiercely

31. 31
with breweries of foreign Joint-ventures. Local detergent producers, although capable of meeting
domestic demand to the year 2005, have driven into the corner by giants such as Procter &
Gamble and Unilever.
6. To protect domestic production, local producers have proposed several measures to the
Government. First, the State should devise specific development plans for foreign investment in
terms of business field and geographical area and should not encourage foreign investment in
products which local enterprises can produce such as soft drink, detergent, paper and cigarettes.
Second, licenses should be granted only to JVs or foreign-owned enterprises which involve in
projects requiring large capital, advanced technology or producing goods for export. Third, a law
should be enacted against unfair competition that can lead to monopoly, dumping or price
inflation that does not benefit consumers.
7. In Vietnamese the word “nuoc” carry a double meaning of “country” and “water”, a linguistic
association recognizable after a journey to the most fertile land in Vietnam- the Mekong Delta.
The silt from the Mekong River helps to bring an ample granary representing the whole country
source of food as well as the local inhabitants‟ riverside lifestyle. For tourists, the Mekong Delta
is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in South-east Asia. It offers the marvel of the
glittering waters coupled with the gaiety of a culture demonstrated by the local lifestyle and
commercial activities. The big cities such as Can Tho, My Tho and Long Xuyen provide a
vantage for the nine provinces of the Mekong Delta while the immense network of rivers and
canals is regarded as the great boon second to none in this region. The exciting life in this region
is not very similar to that in HCM City. However, it does not suggest any difficulty in reaching
the Mekong Delta to escape the excitement of the greatest city in Southern Vietnam. It takes only
a three-hour drive( by bus, though) on the National Highway Number 1 to get to My Tho, the
capital of Tien giang & an ideal departure point for exploring this delta region.

32. 32
Chapter 2: STRATEGIES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH
Lesson 10 : NHỮNG NGÀNH KINH TẾ TRỌNG ĐIỂM
Nh÷ng ngµnh kinh tÕ träng ®iÓm n¨m nay cho thÊy r»ng ViÖt nam
®ang ®i ®óng h-íng trªn con ®-êng ph¸t triÓn khi mµ hÇu hÕt c¸c
môc tiªu sÏ trë thµnh hiÖn thùc vµ c¸c thµnh tùu ®¹t ®-îc sÏ cao
h¬n dù ®o¸n.
Theo mét b¶n b¸o c¸o cña chÝnh phñ ®-îc Thñ t-íng Phan V¨n Kh¶i
tr×nh bµy t¹i kú häp Quèc héi lÇn thø 8, chóng ta sÏ ®¹t ®-îc tÊt
c¶ c¸c môc tiªu kinh tÕ träng ®iÓm cña n¨m nay víi møc t¨ng
tr-ëng kinh tÕ dù ®o¸n lµ 6,7%. Gi¸ trÞ c«ng nghiÖp dù kiÕn sÏ
t¨ng 15,5%, trong khi môc tiªu ®Ò ra lµ 11%. Møc t¨ng tr-ëng cao
nhÊt lµ 18,8% sÏ thuéc vÒ c¸c thµnh phÇn kinh tÕ ngoµi quèc
doanh, tiÕp ®ã lµ ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi 17,3% vµ thµnh phÇn nhµ n-íc
víi 12,4%. N«ng s¶n sÏ t¨ng 4,9% so víi môc tiªu lµ 4%, ngµnh
dÞch vô còng sÏ t¨ng 6% so víi môc tiªu lµ 5 - 5,5%.
Tæng ®Çu t- trong n¨m -íc tÝnh vµo kho¶ng 27,9% cña tæng s¶n phÈm
quèc néi (GDP), t¨ng 20% so víi n¨m ngo¸i. Trong ®ã ®ãng gãp cña
ng©n s¸ch nhµ n-íc lµ 23.8%, tÝn dông nhµ n-íc 17%, thµnh phÇn
liªn doanh nhµ n-íc 17,9% vµ thµnh phÇn t- nh©n lµ 23,2%.
Tæng thu nhËp ng©n s¸ch sÏ t¨ng 8,9% so víi n¨m ngo¸i vµ sÏ v-ît
môc tiªu. L-îng xuÊt khÈu hµng ho¸ sÏ ®¹t 14 tØ USD, lªn ®Õn
21,3% so víi môc tiªu ®Æt ra vµo ®Çu n¨m lµ 11 - 12%. Thu nhËp tõ
xuÊt khÈu vèn trung b×nh ®¹t 180 USD, v-ît qua møc 170 USD lµ
møc ®iÓm. ThÆng d- th-¬ng m¹i sÏ ®-îc h¹n ®Þnh ë móc lµnh m¹nh lµ
7% tõ nguån thu xuÊt khÈu.
B¶n b¸o c¸o cho r»ng cã ®-îc thµnh tùu kinh tÕ tèt ®Ñp/ kh¶ quan
nh- vËy lµ nhê vµo sù ®Çu t- ngµy cµng t¨ng cña chÝnh phñ, sù
ph¸t triÓn cña nh÷ng c«ng ty nhá vµ nguån tæng thu nhËp lín m¹nh
tõ xuÊt khÈu dÇu th«. §iªu nay dÉn ®Õn viÖc ký kÕt HiÖp ®Þnh
th-¬ng m¹i ViÖt-Mü vµ sù thµnh lËp thÞ tr-êng chøng kho¸n nh- lµ
nh÷ng nh©n tè quan träng kÝch thÝch sù t¨ng tr-ëng trong t-¬ng
lai. Tuy nhiªn, còng cÇn nhÊn m¹nh r»ng nÒn kinh tÕ t-¬ng lai vµ
nh÷ng c¶i c¸ch hµnh chÝnh cÇn ®-îc duy tr× vµ ®Èy nhanh tèc ®é
t¨ng tr-ëng. §Çu t- n-íc ngoµi ®ang cßn thÊp vµ sù chuyÓn ®æi cña
nh÷ng xÝ nghiÖp nhµ n-íc vÉn cßn chËm ch¹p. Trong lóc ®ã, nÒn
kinh tÕ l¹i ph¶i ®èi mÆt víi nh÷ng th¸ch thøc lín, b»ng chøng lµ
c¹nh tranh yÕu kÐm, gi¸ trÞ gia t¨ng trong s¶n phÈm c«ng nghiÖp

33. 33
thÊp, gi¸ c¶ n«ng s¶n còng cßn thÊp vµ chÊt l-îng dÞch vô th×
non kÐm.
B¶n b¸o c¸o còng ®-a ra mét vµi gi¶i ph¸p ®Ó v-ît qua nh÷ng th¸ch
thøc nµy vµ ®¹t ®-îc møc t¨ng tr-ëng cao h¬n vµo n¨m tíi. Nh÷ng
biÖn ph¸p nµy bao gåm c¶ sù thay ®æi m¹nh mÏ cña nh÷ng xÝ nghiÖp
thuéc së h÷u nhµ n-íc, khuyÕn khÝch c¸c thµnh phÇn kinh tÕ t-
nh©n tham gia vµo lÜnh vùc gi¸o dôc, ch¨m sãc søc khoÎ, vÖ sinh
®« thÞ vµ nh÷ng dÞch vô c«ng céng kh¸c.
Dù kiÕn kú häp Quèc héi, b¾t ®Çu tõ ngµy 14 /11, sÏ th«ng qua
luËt B¶o hiÓm doanh nghiÖp, luËt kiÓm so¸t ma tuý vµ ch-¬ng tr×nh
nghÞ sù cho n¨m 2001. Kú häp kÐo dµi trong vßng mét th¸ng nµy
còng sÏ th¶o luËn ph-¬ng h-íng vµ nhiÖm vô cho n¨m 2001 vµ nh÷ng
vÊn ®Ò liªn quan ®Õn ng©n s¸ch an ninh, quèc phßng vµ nh÷ng
ch-¬ng tr×nh quèc gia.

34. 34
Suggested Translation:
KEY ECONOMIC SECTORS
Major economic indicators this year show Vietnam is on the right path of development as most
targets will be realized and achievements will be higher than expected.
According to a government report read by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at the National
Assembly's 8th session, all the key economic targets of this year will be achieved with the
economic growth rate estimated at 6.7%. Industrial value is projected to grow by 15.5% against
the planned target of 11%. The non-State sector will post the highest growth rate at 18.8%,
followed by the foreign investment sector with 17.3% and the State sector with 12.4%.
Agricultural production will increase to 4.9% against the 4% target, and the service sector will
also rise by 6% against the 5 - 5.5% target.
Overall investment in the year is estimated at 27,9% of the gross domestic product (GDP), an
increase of 20% on last year. State budget makes up 23.8% of the amount, State credits 17%,
State corporate sector 17.9% and the private sector 23.2%.
Budget revenues will rise 8.9% from last year and exceed the target. Export sales are expected to
reach US$ 14 billion, up 21.3% against the target of 11 - 12% set at the beginning of the year.
The per capita export earnings has reached US$ 180, surpassing the US$ 170 mark, a criterion for
a country 's with developed external trade. Trade surplus will be confined to a healthy rate of 7%
of export earnings.
The report attributes the good economic performance to bigger Government investment, small
enterprise development and strong revenues from crude oil exports. It hails the signing of the
Vietnam-US. Trade agreement and the establishment of the stock market as important factors to
fuel future growth. However, it stresses further economic and administrative reform is needed to
sustain and accelerate the growth tempo. Foreign investment remains low and State enterprise
reform is moving slowly. Meanwhile, the economy still faces big challenges, evidenced by poor
competitiveness and low added value industrial production, low prices of agro-products and poor
quality in services.
The report also proposes some measures to overcome challenges and achieve higher growth next
year. These measures include stronger reform of State-owned enterprises, encouragement of the
private sector's participation in education, health care, urban sanitation and some other public
services.
The national Assembly session, starting from Nov.14, is expected to pass the Law on Insurance
Business, the Law on Drug Control and the legal agenda for 2001. The one-month long session
will also discuss directions and tasks for 2001 and issues regarding the budget, defense, security
and State programs.

35. 35
Lesson 11: TOURISM GROWING AS HOTEL OCCUPANCY DROPS
HCM CITY - The number of foreign tourists arriving in Viet Nam has been increasing
year after year. On average, it grows by 30 per cent a year, according to recent statistics
released from Viet Nam Tourism Administration.
Though the number of tourists is on the rise, occupancy rates of hotels have dropped
significantly as compared to previous years. Over the past six years, joint - venture hotels
and guest houses operated at an average capacity rate of 85 to 90 per cent. They are now
operating at a capacity rate of only 60 per cent. A rate which is much worse than that of
state - owned hotels and private guest - houses.
One of the main reasons for the decline in hotel capacity rates is the mushrooming of
joint-venture hotels which has caused severe competition among hotels for room - rates
and hotel services.
Several hotels have become burdens to their owners, with low gross earnings and high
taxes, many are about to be forced to close down.
Most foreign visitors have come here eager to experience something new and to travel to
places of wild and natural beauty during their stay. For this reason, Viet Nam's tourist
industry needs to reorganize its management and set goals in order to satisfy the current
demands of tourists.
Though there has been growth in the number of tourists over the past several years, the
number of visitors that come for a second visit is low. It is evident that the attraction of
Vietnam's tourist industry is still inadequate and tourist sites, transport and
accommodation facilities have not yet reached international standards. The country now
has some 22 provinces and cities which have completed detailed master plans for tourist
resorts.
However, these projects are yet to be developed and are still under discussion. Even though each
year the government has spent tens of billion of dongs on upgrading national historical relics and
tourist resorts, due to a lack of management expertise and investment knowledge, these sites have
failed to help boost the development of the tourist industry. To improve quality of tourist resorts
and to boost hotel operations, Viet Nam's tourism industry now requires more investment from
the government.

36. 36
Suggested Translation:
DU Kh¸ch th× t¨ng trong khi tû lÖ l-u tró
t¹i kh¸ch s¹n
gi¶m
TP Hå ChÝ Minh - Sè l-îng du kh¸ch n-íc ngoµi ®Õn Viet Nam ngµy
cµng t¨ng. Theo sè liÖu thèng kª gÇn ®©y cña Tæng Côc Du LÞch
ViÖt Nam th× l-îng du kh¸ch t¨ng b×nh qu©n h»ng n¨m lµ 30%.
MÆc dï l-îng du khách t¨ng, nh-ng t×nh tr¹ng kh¸ch ë l¹i kh¸ch s¹n
gi¶m ®¸ng kÓ so víi nh÷ng n¨m võa råi. H¬n 6 n¨m qua,, c¸c kh¸ch
s¹n liªn doanh vµ c¸c nhµ kh¸ch chØ khai th¸c ®-îc tõ 85-90% sè
phßng hiÖn cã. HiÖn giê chØ cßn ®¹t ë møc 60%, thÊp h¬n nhiÒu so
víi c¸c kh¸ch s¹n cña nhµ n-íc vµ nhµ kh¸ch t- nh©n.
Mét trong nh÷ng nguyªn nh©n chÝnh cña sù tôt gi¶m l-îng kh¸ch lµ
do kh¸ch s¹n liªn doanh mäc lªn nh- nÊm, ®iÒu nµy dÉn ®Õn viÖc
c¹nh tranh khèc liÖt vÒ gi¸ phßng vµ gi¸ dÞch vô.
NhiÒu kh¸ch s¹n cã tæng doanh thu thÊp trong khi l¹i chÞu møc
thuÕ cao, ®ang trë thµnh g¸nh nÆng cho c¸c «ng chñ vµ cã nhiÒu
kh¸ch s¹n s¾p söa buéc ph¶i ®ãng cöa.
§a sè du kh¸ch n-íc ngoµi h¨m hë ®Õn ViÖt Nam ®Ó t×m mét c¸i g×
®ã míi mÎ vµ muèn ®i ®Õn nh÷ng vïng cã vÎ ®Ñp tù nhiªn vµ hoang
d· trong thêi gian l-u l¹i cña hä.V× lý do nµy, du lÞch ViÖt Nam
cÇn tæ chøc l¹i viÖc qu¶n lý vµ ®Æt ra nh÷ng môc tiªu nh»m tháa
m·n nhu cÇu hiÖn nay cña du kh¸ch.
MÆc dï l-îng du kh¸ch vÉn t¨ng trong nh÷ng n¨m qua nh-ng sè du
kh¸ch trë l¹i ViÖt nam lÇn thø hai rÊt Ýt. Râ rµng r»ng ngµnh du
lÞch ViÖt Nam vÉn ch-a ®ñ søc hÊp dÉn du kh¸ch. Thªm vµo ®ã, c¸c
®iÓm du lÞch vµ c¸c ph-¬ng tiÖn ¨n ë ®i l¹i ch-a ®¹t ®Õn tiªu
chuÈn quèc tÕ. ViÖt nam hiÖn cã kho¶ng 22 tØnh vµ thµnh phè ®ang
hoµn tÊt nh÷ng kÕ ho¹ch tæng thÓ chi tiÕt ®Ó x©y dùng c¸c khu
nghØ m¸t cho du kh¸ch. Tuy nhiªn nh÷ng ®Ò ¸n nµy vÉn ch-a ®-îc
triÓn khai, vÉn ®ang cßn ®ang ®-îc th¶o luËn.

37. 37
MÆc dï h»ng n¨m chÝnh phñ ®· chi h»ng chôc tØ ®ång ®Ó n©ng cÊp
c¸c di tÝch lÞch sö quèc gia vµ c¸c khu nghØ m¸t, nh-ng do sù yÕu
kÐm vÒ chuyªn m«n qu¶n lý nªn nh÷ng n¬i nµy vÉn ch-a cã thÓ thóc
®Èy sù ph¸t triÓn cña ngµnh du lÞch n-íc nhµ. §Ó c¶i thiÖn chÊt
l-îng cña c¸c nhµ nghØ vµ t¨ng c-êng ho¹t ®éng cña kh¸ch s¹n,
ngµnh du lÞch ViÖt nam cÇn chÝnh phñ ®Çu t- nhiÒu h¬n n÷a.

38. 38
Lesson 12: ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO SOCIAL
INSURANCE SCHEME
Generally, after a time of stagnation, HCMC' s private textile embroidery industry has recovered
and develop somewhat since 1991. Yet development is not stable because most private units
work according to foreign orders. Consequently, they can't control their production plan, and
labour price for making garments is limited by foreign partners (the labour cost of 1995 is equal
to 65 - 70% of that in 1991 - 1992). Due to the very nature of the industry, the average wage of
those working in this branch is only about VND 400,000 per month. Under the current fierce
competition, the amount of 15% of total wages for social insurance and 2% for medical insurance
that enterprises must contribute, if the proposed social insurance scheme comes into effect, will
push up production costs to very high levels, making it difficult for Vietnamese ventures to
compete effectively and occupy the market.
To help private textile embroidery businesses survive, Mr. Nam has suggested, the State should
amend the contribution rate of non - State ventures to Social Insurance schemes, as follows:
- Social Insurance: 10% by enterprise, 3% by employee.
- Medical Insurance: 1 % by enterprises, 1 % by employee
The State should also issue a regulation concerning employees who are trained and recruited by
an enterprise, and are obligated to work for at least two years. It is necessary that employees
working at non-- State ventures should be given a work card. Employer agreement may be
required if an employee want to leave his or her job.
All members of HCMC's Textile - Embroidery Association agree on the implementation of
contributing a part of total wages to Social and Medical Insurance, in compliance with the Labour
Code.
LOCAL PRODUCERS COMPLAIN ABOUT UNEQUAL COMPETITION
Business leaders of big companies in HCMC have voiced difficulties they are facing with in the
fierce competition against foreign companies, especially world giants.
At a meeting on "How to encourage foreign investment and protect domestic production" held in
HCMC last week, producers of Tico and Lux Detergent, P/S Cosmetics, Tribeco Soft Drink, Viet
Thang Textiles, Saigon Beer and HCMC Poultry Company, had the same opinion that local
enterprises are not in an equal footing in competing with foreign counterparts as they do not
enjoy tax incentives as foreign-invested enterprises.

39. 39
Only a year after the US embargo was lifted, soft drink giants such as Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola,
which have enjoyed superior advantages in capital, marketing policies and preferences under the
Foreign Investment Law, have gradually eaten into the market shares of local producers. Other
products are also in the same situation. Saigon Beer has to compete fiercely with breweries of
foreign Joint-ventures. Local detergent producers, although capable of meeting domestic demand
to the year 2000, have driven into the corner by giants such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever.
To protect domestic production, local producers have proposed several measures to the
Government. First, the State should devise specific development plans for foreign investment in
terms of business field and geographical area and should not encourage foreign investment in
products, which local enterprises can produce such as soft drink, detergent, paper and cigarettes.
Second, licenses should be granted only to JVs or 100% foreign-owned enterprises, which
involve in projects requiring large capital, advanced technology or producing goods for export.
Third, a law should be enacted against unfair competition that can lead to monopoly, dumping or
price inflation that does not benefit consumers. Fourth, there should be a policy to encourage
domestic investment and to grant domestic enterprises the same tax incentives as foreign
investors enjoy. Fifth, a campaign to motivate local consumers to use domestic goods should be
launched, creating conditions for domestic enterprises to develop.
Suggested Translation:
CÇN §iÒu chØnh l¹i hÖ thèng b¶o hiÓm X· héi
Nh×n chung sau mét thêi gian ho¹t ®éng tr× trÖ, nÒn c«ng nghiÖp
dÖt thªu t- nh©n cña Thµnh phè Hå ChÝ Minh ®· ®-îc kh«i phôc vµ
ph¸t triÓn ë møc ®é nhÊt ®Þnh kÓ tõ n¨m 1991.Tuy nhiªn sù ph¸t
triÓn kh«ng æn ®Þnh bëi v× hÇu hÕt c«ng viÖc cña c¸c xÝ nghiÖp t-
nh©n ®Òu phô thuéc vµo ®¬n ®Æt hµng cña n-íc ngoµi.Do vËy, hä
kh«ng thÓ kiÓm so¸t ®-îc kÕ ho¹ch s¶n xuÊt, vµ gi¸ lao ®éng cho
s¶n phÈm may mÆt bÞ c¸c ®èi t¸c n-íc ngoµi qui ®Þnh rÊt thÊp (
tiÒn c«ng lao ®éng n¨m 1995 chØ b»ng 65%-70% so víi c¸c n¨m 1991
vµ 1992.).Do tÝnh ®Æc thï cña ngµnh nµy, nªn l-¬ng trung b×nh cña
c«ng nh©n trong ngµnh may-thªu chØ kho¶ng 400.000 ®ång/th¸ng. Víi
sù c¹nh tranh gay g¾t hiÖn nay, b¶o hiÓm x· héi chiÕm ®Õn 15% vµ
b¶o hiÓm y tÕ lµ 2% trong tæng sè l-¬ng mµ c¸c doanh nghiÖp ph¶i
®ãng, vµ nÕu nh- kÕ ho¹ch dù kiÕn cña b¶o hiÓm x· héi ®-îc phª
duyÖt, th× gi¸ thµnh s¶n xuÊt sÏ rÊt cao g©y khã kh¨n cho c¸c
nhµ s¶n xuÊt ViÖt Nam trong vieec c¹nh tranh cã hiÖu qu¶ vµ chiÕm
lÜnh thÞ tr-êng.

40. 40
§Ó gióp c¸c doanh nghiÖp thªu-may t- nh©n sèng cßn, «ng Nam ®· ®Ò
nghÞ nhµ n-íc nªn söa ®æi tû lÖ ®ãng gãp cña c¸c doanh nghiÖp
ngoµi quèc doanh ®èi víi chÝnh s¸ch b¶o hiÓm x· héi nh- sau:
- B¶o hiÓm x· héi: 10% ®èi víi doanh nghiÖp vµ 3% ®èi víi c«ng
nh©n
- B¶o hiÓm y tÕ : 1% ®èi víi doanh nghiÖp vµ 1% ®èi víi
c«ng nh©n
Nhµ n-íc còng nªn ban hµnh mét qui ®Þnh cã liªn quan ®Õn ng-êi
lao ®éng ®· ®-îc c¸c doanh nghiÖp tuyÓn dông vµ ®µo t¹o buéc
ph¶i lµm viÖc tèi thiÓu lµ 2 n¨m. C¸c c«ng nh©n lµm viÖc trong
c¸c doanh nghiÖp ngoµi quèc doanh cÇn ph¶i ®-îc cÊp thÎ lµm viÖc.
NÕu mét c«ng nh©n nµo ®ã muèn th«i viÖc th× ph¶i ®-îc doanh
nghiÖp cñ qu¶n ®ång ý.
TÊt c¶ mäi thµnh viªn cña c¸c c«ng ty may-thªu ë Thµnh phè Hå ChÝ
Minh ®Òu ®ång ý thùc hiÖn ®Çy ®ñ viÖc ®ãng gãp mét phÇn l-¬ng vµo
b¶o hiÓm x· héi vµ y tÕ, thÓ theo ®óng qui ®Þnh cña luËt lao
®éng.
C¸c nhµ s¶n xuÊt ®Þa ph-¬ng phµn nµn vÒ sù c¹nh tranh
kh«ng lµnh m¹nh
C¸c chñ doanh nghiÖp cña c¸c c«ng ty lín ë TP Hå ChÝ Minh ®· nªu
ra nh÷ng khã kh¨n mµ hä ph¶i ®-¬ng ®Çu trong viÖc c¹nh tranh gay
g¾t víi c¸c c«ng ty n-íc ngoµi, ®Æc biÖt lµ víi c¸c c«ng ty khæng
lå thÕ giíi.
T¹i mét cuéc häp bµn vÒ : Lµm thÕ nµo ®Ó khuyÕn khÝch ®Çu t- n-íc
ngoµi vµ ®¶m b¶o s¶n xuÊt trong n-íc ®-îc tæ chøc t¹i TP Hå ChÝ
minh tuÇn qua, c¸c nhµ s¶n xuÊt cña c¸c c«ng ty bét giÆt Tico vµ
Lux, Mü phÈm P/S, n-íc gi¶i kh¸t Tribeco, dÖt ViÖt Th¾ng, bia Sµi
gßn vµ c«ng ty gia cÇm vËt nu«i TP Hå ChÝ Minh ®Òu thèng nhÊt mét
ý kiÕn lµ c¸c doanh nghiÖp trong n-íc kh«ng c©n søc trong viÖc
c¹nh tranh víi c¸c ®èi t¸c n-íc ngoµi v× hä kh«ng ®-îc h-ëng
chÝnh s¸ch -u ®·i thuÕ nh- c¸c doanh nghiÖp cã vèn ®Çu t- n-íc
ngoµi.

41. 41
ChØ 1 n¨m sau khi lÖnh cÊm vËn cña Mü ®-îc b·i bá, c¸c c«ng ty
n-íc gi¶i kh¸t khæng lå nh- Coca-cola, Pep si- Cola ®-îc h-ëng -u
®·i vÒ vèn, chÝnh s¸ch tiÕp thÞ vµ c¸c -u ®·i kh¸c theo luËt §Çu
T- N-íc Ngoµi, nªn c¸c c«ng ty nµy ®· dÇn dÇn th©m nhËp thÞ phÇn
cña c¸c nahf s¶n xuÊt trong n-íc. C¸c s¶n phÈm kh¸c còng r¬i vµo
hoµn c¶nh t-¬ng tù. Bia Sµi Gßn ph¶i c¹nh tranh quyÕt liÖt víi
c¸c c«ng ty bia liªn doanh víi n-íc ngoµi. C¸c nhµ s¶n xuÊt bét
giÆt trong n-íc, mÆc dï cã thÓ ®¸p øng nhu cÇu trong n-íc ®Õn n¨m
2000, nh-ng l¹i bÞ c¸c c«ng ty khæng lå nh- Procter & Gamble vµ
Unilever dån vµo thÕ bÝ.
§Ó b¶o vÖ viÖc s¶n xuÊt trong n-íc, c¸c nhµ s¶n xuÊt trong n-íc
®· ®Ò nghÞ víi chÝnh phñ mét sè biÖn ph¸p. Thø nhÊt, nhµ n-íc nªn
cã kÕ ho¹ch ph¸t triÓn dµnh riªng cho viÖc ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi vÒ
l·nh vùc kinh doanh vµ ph©n bè theo vïng ®Þa lý vµ kh«ng nªn
khuyÕn khÝch ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi vµo viÖc s¶n xuÊt ra c¸c s¶n phÈm
mµ c¸c doanh nghiÖp trong n-íc cã kh¶ n¨ng s¶n xuÊt ®-îc nh- n-íc
gi¶i kh¸t, bét giÆt, giÊy vµ thuèc l¸. Thø hai, viÖc cÊp giÊy
phÐp nªn ®-îc ¸p dông cho c¸c c«ng ty liªn doanh hay c¸c doanh
nghiÖp cã 100% vèn ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi tham gia vµo c¸c dù ¸n ®ßi
hái cã nhiÒu vèn, c«ng nghÖ cao hay s¶n xuÊt c¸c mÆt hµng xuÊt
khÈu. Thø ba, lµ nªn cã mét ®¹o luËt chèng ®èi viÖc c¹nh tranh
kh«ng lµnh m¹nh cã thÓ dÉn ®éc quyÒn kinh doanh, ph¸ gi¸ lµm h¹i
ng-êi tiªu dïng. Thø t- nªn cã chÝnh s¸ch khuyÕn khÝch ®Çu t-
trong n-íc vµ cho c¸c doanh nghiÖp trong n-íc ®-îc h-ëng chÝnh
s¸ch -u ®·i thuÕ nh- c¸c nhµ ®Çu t- n-íc ngoµi. Thø n¨m, nªn ph¸t
®éng mét chiÕn dÞch ®éng viªn ng-êi ViÖt Nam dïng hµng néi ®Þa,
t¹o ®iÒu kiÖn cho c¸c doanh nghiÖp trong n-íc ph¸t triÓn.

42. 42
Lesson 13:
H«m thø b¶y, mét ®oµn doanh nh©n ®· trao cho tæng thèng Indonesia
Suharto ®-¬ng kim chñ tÞch cña “ D iÔn §µn hîp t¸c Kinh tÕ Ch©u ¸
Th¸i B×nh D­¬ng (APEC) ” mét b¶n b¸o c¸o ®Õ nghÞ tù do mËu dÞch
cÇn ®-îc thùc hiÖn n¨m 2001.
“ C hóng t«i ®ang ®éng viªn c¸c nhµ l·nh ®¹o ®­a kh¸i niÖm vÕ tù
do mËu dÞch vµo nÕn kinh tÕ vµo n¨m 2001. ” §ã lµ lêi cña «ng Les
Mac Craw, ®ång chñ tÞch “ DiÔn ®µn Kinh doanh Th¸i B×nh D­¬ng
(PBF) ” nãi vìi tæng thèng Suharto khi «ng trao tay cho tæng
thãng b¶n b¸o c¸o cña ®oµn.
B¶n b¸o c¸o cña PBF mét tæ chøc bao gåm ®¹i diÖn cña 33 doanh
nghiÖp t- nh©n cña 18 c¬ cÊu tæ chøc thµnh viªn, nÕu râ rµng c¸c
nÒn kinh tÕ trong khèi APEC ®· ph¸t triÓn nªn thùc hiÖn tù do mËu
dÞch vµ sù më réng tù do ®Çu t- trong khu vùc vµo n¨m 2002 vµ vµo
thêi ®iÓm kh«ng qu¸ n¨m 2010 ®èi víi c¸c nÒn kinh tÕ thuéc thµnh
phÇn kh¸c.
B¶n b¸o c¸o còng nªu râ lµ môc ®Ých nµy cÇn ®-îc thõa nhËn thùc
hiÖn trong n¨m nay ®Ó thÓ hiÖn vai trß cña nã lµ mét diÔn ®µn
chÝnh s¸ch chØ ®¹o cho sù ph¸t triÓn cña khu vùc Ch©u ¸ Th¸i B×nh
D-¬ng.
B¶n b¸o c¸o còng ®· nh¾c nhë c¸c nhµ l·nh ®¹o cña APEC nªn nhanh
chãng chÊp nhËn vµ thùc hiÖn chÝnh s¸ch “ t¹m ngõng l¹i ” vÕ
viÖc giíi thiÖu kiÓu mËu dÞch míi vµ c¸c trë ng¹i vÒ ®Çu t-.
C¸c nhµ l·nh ®¹o còng nªn thõa nhËn c¸c nguyªn t¾c cña ®iÒu lÖ
®Çu t- ¸p dông vµo luËt trong n-íc mµ ®iÒu ®ã phï hîp vµ thÓ hiÖn
®Çy ®ñ nh÷ng lêi cam kÕt cña héi nghÞ Uraguay còng nh- b¶o ®¶m
h¬n n÷a nh÷ng biÖn ph¸p më réng thÞ tr-êng.
Mét nhãm chuyªn gia APEC, ®oµn nh÷ng chuyªn gia næi tiÕng EPG,
trong th¸ng 8, ®· ®Ö trnhf lªn tæng thèng Shuharto b¶n b¸o c¸o
cña hä mµ trong ®ã hä ®Ò nghÞ tù do mËu dÞch vµ sù më réng ®Çu t-
®-îc hoµn tÊt vµo n¨m 2020.
Nhãm EPG ®· ®Ò nghÞ r»ng sù chuyÓn dÞch sÏ ®-îc b¾t ®Çu vµo n¨m
2000, víi nh÷ng n-íc cã nÒn kinh tÕ ph¸t triÓn ho¹t ®éng th-¬ng
m¹i vµ ®Çu t- trong vßng 10 n¨m, c¸c n-íc míi c«ng nghiÖp hãa
trong vßng 15 n¨m vµ c¸c n-íc cßn l¹i trong vßng 20 n¨m.
¤ng Craw nãi r»ng nh÷ng ®Ò nghÞ cña hä rÊt rïm beng nh-ng chóng
t«i còng thõa nhËn r»ng nh÷ng thay ®æi kinh tÕ ®ang diÔn ra m¹nh
mÏ. “ Chóng t«i muèn chuyÓn ®Õn mét th«ng ®iÖp lµ c«ng viÖc

43. 43
kinh doanh vµ nh÷ng mèi l-u t©m vÒ vÊn ®Ò nµy tiÕn triÓn nhanh
h¬n nh÷ng g× c¸c chÝnh phñ cã thÓ lµm. ” ¤ng Craw cho biÕt thªm.
Tuy nhiªn «ng cho r»ng c¸c nhµ l·nh ®¹o APEC cã nhiÖm vô ph¶i
quyÕt ®Þnh vÒ thêi h¹n ®èi víi nÒn kinh tÕ toµn khu vùc vµ viÖc
më réng ®Çu t- trong khu vùc. Tæng thèng Shuharto nãi víi ®¹i
diÖn cña PBF r»ng b¶n b¸o c¸o cña PBF cïng víi b¶n b¸o c¸o cña
EPG sÏ göi ®Õn c¸c nhµ l·nh ®¹o kh¸c cña APEC ®Ó c¸c vÞ nµy cã ®ñ
c¬ së vµ ®iÒu kiÖn ®Ó th¶o luËn trong cuéc héi nghÞm th-îng ®Ønh
ë gÇn Bogor vµo ngµy 15 th¸ng 11.
Tæng thèng nãi «ng hi väng héi nghÞ th-îng ®Ønh sÏ cã thÓ ®-a ra
mät gi¶i ph¸p lµm t¨ng vµ t¹o ra sù hîp t¸c kinh tÕ kh¶ thi gi÷a
cac sthanhf viªn APEC.
Trong nh÷ng lêi ®Ò nghÞ ®ã, b¶n b¸o c¸o muèn nªu lªn lµ c¸c nhµ
l·nh ®¹o lu«n cè g¾ng thùc hiÖn tÝnh trong s¸ng trong qu¶n lý,
luËt lÖ vµ c¸c qui t¾c, thõa nhËn mét luËt quan thuÕ chung, c¶i
tiÕn nh÷ng ®iÒu kiÖn ®ßi hái vÒ thÞ thùc ®èi víi viÖc nhËp c¶nh
cña c¸c doanh nh©n thuéc khèi APEC ®i du lÞch vµ c¶i tiÕn viÖc
b¶o vÖ t¸c quyÒn.
Còng nh- trong b¶n b¸o c¸o EPG, b¶n b¸o c¸o cña PBF còng giíi
thiÖu r»ng c¸c thµnh viªn APEC kh«ng ph¶i lµ thµnh viªn GATT hiÖn
thêi, nh- Trung Quèc, sÏ trë nªn c¸c thµnh kÕt giao cµng sím
cµng tèt.
Nhãm APEC gåm : óc, Brun©y, Canada, Trung Quèc, Hång K«ng,
Newzealand, Papua New Guinea, Phi lip pin, Xingapo, Nam TriÒu
Tiªn, §µi loan, vµ Mü. Chi lª mong mái chÝnh thøc tham gia vµo
nhãm héi nghÞ cÊp Bé Tr-ëng APEC tæ chø ë ®©y vµo th¸ng 11.
Trong lóc Êy, ë Sydney, Thñ t-íng óc Paul Keating ®· hoan nghªnh
b¶n b¸o c¸o cña PBF vµ nhÊn m¹nh sù cÇn thiÕt cho viÖc ®-a ra mét
kú h¹n thùc hiÖn cho sù tù do mËu dÞch gi÷a APEC vµ c¸c thµnh
viªn.
Keating nãi r»ng ®iÒu chÝnh yÕu ®èi víi PBF viÔn t-ëng vµ Ch©u ¸
Th¸i B×nh D-¬ng n¨ng ®éng lµ sù cÇn thiÕt cho mét chuyÓn biÕn
nhanh vÒ tù do mËu dÞch vµ viÖc më réng ®Çu t- trong vïng.
A group of businessmen Saturday handed over a report to the current chairman of the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Indonesian President Suharto, proposing that Free
Trade in the region be reached by 2010.
Suggested Translation: