PRESS DIGEST - Vietnam newspapers - December 21

HANOI, Dec 21 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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HANOI MOI

-- Pacific Airlines began flying between Ho Chi Minh City and the northern port city of Haiphong, its third domestic route launched this year. The airline also operates code-share flights to Bangkok and Singapore.

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SAIGON GIAI PHONG

-- Imported fertiliser prices are rising towards records as Vietnamese farmers start production of winter-spring crops, the Industry and Trade Ministry's Information Centre said.

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LAO DONG

-- The central bank may tighten dong liquidity in 2008 and limit its interference in the foreign exchange market, Standard Chartered Plc (STAN.L) said in a report.

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TUOI TRE

-- Vietnam reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes, Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung said. The country's policy was to use negotiations to settle all disputes in a peaceful way, he said.

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THANH NIEN

-- Vietnam's motorcycle sales this year are estimated at 2.5 million, 1 million of them from Honda Vietnam and 800,000 split between Yamaha, Suzuki and Taiwan-backed SYM while the remaining 700,000 are either imported or manufactured by domestic firms, industry figures show.

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