PRESS DIGEST - Vietnam newspapers - Nov 19

HANOI Nov 19 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories.

FINANCIAL NEWS:

VIETNAM NEWS

-- Domestic gold demand has levelled thanks to new gold imports after the central bank lifted a gold import ban last week, dealers said.

ECONOMIC AND GENERAL NEWS:

VIETNAM NEWS

-- President Nguyen Minh Triet praised former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife for their participation in a programme to build homes for the poor in Vietnam.

LAO DONG

-- The government has ordered a reinspection of the state-owned shipbuilder Vinashin next year.

THANH NIEN

-- The Hanoi Stock Exchange .HNXI conducted its 1,000th trading session on Wednesday after nearly four years in operation, with now 240 listed companies. Its market capitalisation stood at 135 trillion dong ($7.57 billion).

TUOI TRE

-- Vietnam Airlines said it will open charter flights linking the central city of Danang with Hong Kong and Japan in December and if market conditions are stable it will make the routes permanent in 2010.

-- Government inspectors will investigate many major companies in 2010, including Vinashin, Bao Viet and state-run lender BIDV, deputy head of the state inspectorate Mai Quoc Binh said. (Reporting by Hanoi Newsroom)