During an Asian visit from March 8-14, the German Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development Dirk Niebel has invited representatives of the Vietnamese Government and international organizations to attend a seminar on climate change.

Some land areas in South Sai Gon as well as canals and tributaries in the outskirts of HCM City have been improperly filled, causing flooding in many areas in the city, according to the Institute of Environmental Management and Science and Technology.

A mysterious network of caves by Chua Tien in Hoa Binh province have proved to be a popular spot for tourism. According to legend it was Lac Long Quan who fathered Vietnam. He was said to be descended from the dragons and possessed superhuman strength. One day, he made a trip out onto the water and there he met Au Co, a fairy princess. The couple married and Au Co gave birth to a sac with 100 yolks which turned into 100 infants.

All aspects of Vietnam’s natural resources will be commercialised to further enrich the country’s budget. All users of Vietnam’s natural resources such as land, water and minerals and information and data of such resources would have to pay money, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked ministries, branches and localities to take drastic measures to prevent forest fires and their spread to protect forest resources and the natural environment.

Once visiting Danang, the Luong River is suggested as ideal for exploring new tourist sites in the city in a short time. About 15 kilometers from the center of Danang City, the Luong Stream eco-tourist site sits gently under Hai Van Pass as a green mountainous sanctuary of murmuring streams and birdsong.

Filmmakers of the renowned National Geographic Society will come to Vietnam on March 11 to shoot a documentary about Son Doong, the world’s largest cave located in the central province of Quang Binh in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.

The Asian Turtle Preservation programme (ATP) of the US zoo Cleverland Metropark will grant $20,000 to build a turtle rescue station in the central province of Quang Ngai. This station will rescue and preserve the endemic turtle species in central Vietnam - Mauremys anammensis.

The Ha Noi People's Committee has introduced fines of up to VND15 million (US$789) for people caught illegally discharging solid and domestic waste. It's the first time the city's People's Committee has published administrative punishments for activities that pollute the environment.

Viet Nam can generate 2,400MW per year from renewable sources by 2020, or 5 per cent of the total electricity production in the country, experts have said. However, this will need significant start-up capital assistance from the Government, they add.