VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 2, 2004.

HANOI, Feb 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers:

NHAN DAN:

- Vietnam's first liver transplant has been declared a success. The 19 hours of surgery was only the beginning of the total transplant and the final result would not be known for three months, National Liver Transplant Council Chairman Le The Trung said yesterday.

- The World Health Organisation would like to use a sample of the bird flu virus from Vietnam as the basis for a vaccine. Until now, the flu has spread to 47 of 64 of Vietnam's province and cities. Farmers have culled more than 7 million birds.

- Approximately 290,000 foreign tourists visited Vietnam last month, a 17.3 percent increase over January 2003. Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Vung Tau, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Ha Long and Sa Pa reported running at 80-95 percent capacity.

HANOI MOI:

- Vietnamese businesses will be ...