According to Vietnam Foodstuff Association, the price of husked and unhusked rice

for export in the Cuu Long (Delta) region has fallen by between VND150 and 200 a

kilogram (37 and 50 riel)in the past week, while the volume of rice imports from

Cambodia through An Giang, Dong Thap and Long An provinces has risen.

Price conditions are not expected to improve until the first quarter of 2007 when

the Cuu Long region's winter-spring crop will be ready for harvest in March.

To drive prices lower, the government is allowing companies to import rice from Cambodia

without paying tax.