Background
* 'I'm a girl and I figure there's no need to save money at the moment.
Live now, save later - that's my view. If I see some pretty shoes or fancy underwear I like, I will buy it. That's why I can never save any money.'
* 'Young people have more money, and they mostly spend it on things that can show how stylish they are. They like to show off.'
* 'I look for famous brands, and if I like them, I buy. Young people want their lifestyle reflected by what they own because it shows the level of society they belong to.'

Population, 85 million. Average age, 24 years.
They grew up queuing for hours for food rations, needing permission to buy Soviet-era bicycles and dull, uniform-like clothing. But with the introduction of doi moi (economic reforms) in 1986, people soon found themselves able to afford fashionable products. And now they're making up for lost time.

With a choice of jobs in a booming economy, dabbling in the stock market is another source of expendable income - this year's growth in the stock market is likely to exceed last year's increase of 145 per cent. Clothes, cosmetics, laptops, DVDs, iPods, overseas holidays, exclusive coffee shops and nightclubs... here's to living it up!

The world connector
Mr DVN was employed by the Saigon post office at the age of 17. He is now 75 and still turns up to work every day to help people connect - he is (possibly) Vietnam's last professional letter writer. Mr N studied French at school and learnt English from American soldiers. He helps write requests for unpaid business dues, poems, and stories of pain and heartbreak, and of love. Last year, his colleague and fellow letter writer, HL, passed away. Mr N has only one wish: that the world will have many more letter writers like him and his friend. Sometimes foreigners too are asked to help write letters.

Made in God's image
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang recently said, 'Vietnam advocates dialogue, co-operation and exchanges with other countries on cultural issues and human rights, on the basis of equality, mutual respect and understanding. But at the same time, we oppose cultural domination and influence in the name of human rights. We must respect each nation's rights to make decisions and approach human rights issues within the context of its own development, cultural, historical and religious characteristics.

• May God's rights given to every person be upheld by legislation and action in Vietnam.

Viet Kieu - your country wants you!
Last month, the Foreign Ministry and those who liaise with Vietnamese communities overseas met to discuss how to strengthen those communities. Key needs identified for the period 2007-2010 include preservation of national identity, study of the Vietnamese language, and pursuit of their religions and beliefs. In addition, more meetings with overseas Vietnamese communities will be held to help them gain a thorough understanding of the Party and State policies.

It was agreed that new policies will be needed to protect the legitimate interests of overseas Vietnamese, and to facilitate their return, e.g. exemption of visas for overseas Vietnamese, possibilities for overseas Vietnamese to buy houses in Vietnam, streamlined procedures on repatriation and dual-nationality. At the same time, such opportunities will be closely monitored in order to thwart the plans of 'extremists' working against Vietnam, whilst increasing co-operation and friendship with the countries that host many Vietnamese.

• Pray for opportunities for Vietnamese overseas to truly find Christ, rather than a Christian culture. May the Lord guide them as they seek to understand their identity as overseas Vietnamese in Christ. Wisdom, obedience and humility are also needed if the Lord should call them back to live, work and serve in Vietnam.

• Praise God for people from many different countries with a heart for Vietnam. Ask that he would continue to draw people from all countries to send forth workers for his harvest.

Over the past nine years, tripartite co-operation in agriculture and rural development by Vietnam, Africa and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has yielded promising results for African farmers, particularly in wet rice farming and animal breeding techniques. Mali, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania and Togo have requested an additional 300 Vietnamese agriculturalists to demonstrate the latest developments in rice cultivation and irrigation systems.

• Thank God that he has gifted Vietnamese agriculturalists and scientists with the skills and knowledge to benefit others, even in distant lands. May they wisely develop Vietnamese agricultural practice, recognizing God's bounteous provision while promoting responsible stewardship of natural resources.
• May believers be involved in these programs on both sides.