HANOI, July 17 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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VIETNAM NEWS

-- Vietnam recorded 16,000 violations of the law on forest protection in the first half of this year, up from 15,000 a year earlier, the Agriculture Ministry said. It also had 550 forest fires, with 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) damaged.

-- The Swiss government signed an agreement to provide $3.9 million to improve financial services in Vietnam's banking sector, involving the central bank, the Mekong Delta Housing Bank, other state-run banks and several universities.

-- Vietnam has allowed foreign diplomats to invest in the nation's stock exchange.

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NHAN DAN

-- Trade between Vietnam and Laos, nearly $125 million in the first five months of this year, is forecast to rise to $1 billion in 2010, Lao officials said.

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QUAN DOI NHAN DAN

-- Bird flu killed 120 ducks in the northern province of Dien Bien, the Animal Health Department said.

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LAO DONG

-- Vietnam ranks 61st of 64 countries surveyed on the competitiveness on information technology, the Economist Intelligence Unit said.

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TUOI TRE

-- Vietnamese businesses have invested $461 million in Laos, accounting nearly half of all outbound investment from Vietnam.

-- PSA of Singapore has begun the construction of a $165-million container terminal capable of hjanding two million containers at Cai Mep Thi Vai Port in the oil province of Ba Ria Vung Tau. The terminal is expected to be completed by 2009.

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THOI BAO KINH TE VIETNAM

-- Sacombank <STB.HM> has been voted Vietnam's best bank by Euromoney.

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