PRESS DIGEST - Vietnam newspapers - December 26

HANOI, Dec 26 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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NHAN DAN

-- The government has banned three-wheeled motorcycles from ferrying passengers or taking cargo in urban areas.

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SAIGON GIAI PHONG

-- Prices of essential goods such as coal, electricity and oil products would rise next year while the government would stop compensating state oil product importers for losses, Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh said.

-- A reduction in import duty this year has stimulated consumer demand and led to a $60.7 billion rise of imports, widening the annual trade deficit to a record $12.4 billion, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Nguyen Thanh Bien said.

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