HANOI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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VIETNAM NEWS

-- A total of 201,724 trading accounts have been opened on Vietnam's stock markets, with foreign investors holding 25 to 30 percent of listed shares, the State Securities Commission said. The markets raised 60 trillion dong ($3.75 billion) during the first half of this year, or 6 percent of GDP.

-- Vietnam Airlines said it was due to start a three times weekly direct service between Hanoi and Busan in South Korea on Thursday.

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NHAN DAN

-- Anti-drug police have uncovered nearly 112,000 cases related to narcotics offences over the past decade, having seized more than 1.2 tonnes of heroin and more than 4.3 tonnes of opium.

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HANOI MOI

-- The Industry Ministry has proposed the government refuse to approve a project to form an electricity trading joint stock company which has raised concerns about unfair trading.

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SAIGON GIAI PHONG

-- Many seafood importers in the EU and U.S. markets are expected to switch their orders to Vietnam from Thailand, where shrimp exports have been hurt by high production costs and diseases, Vietnamese industry officials said.

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LAO DONG

-- The Health Ministry has warned of a new bird flu outbreak in humans after six people were infected by the H5N1 virus so far this year and three of them died. In several cases, the source of infection remains unclear.

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TUOI TRE

-- The state budget now has to cover the expenses of around 20,000 cars used in state agencies and government offices.

-- Police have arrested a man in the southern province of An Giang who organised anti-government protests and demonstrations along with southern people of the Khmer ethnic minority group.

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THANH NIEN

-- A pig disease caused by a bacteria killed a 57-year-old patient in the northern province of Ha Tay, doctors said. The province has detected five human infections of the Streptococcus suis bacteria since March.

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THOI BAO KINH TE VIETNAM

-- Four central provinces have suffered from serious dryness over the past two months, with 20,000 hectares (49,400 acres) of crops damaged, the Agriculture Ministry said.

-- Vietnam Electricity Construction Corporation will list its shares on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange <.VNI> on Aug. 9, chief executive Doan Duc Hong said.

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