A Vietnam News Agency report cited both teachers and students as saying there were "no problems" on the first day, and that they expected the same of the remaining days.

The finals began with a two-hour exam on literature in which students were asked to express their opinions on China's illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981oil rig in Vietnamese waters.

On Huyen Trang, a student at Ha Noi's Nguyen Trai High School, said that she was very interested in the question about China's illegal actions in Viet Nam's waters because it was "hot news" and helped students express their responsibility and love for the nation.

She also said that the questions asked were related to lessons that they had revised prior to the examination.

More than 76,000 students in Ha Noi sat for the literature exams.

Hoang Xuyen, a literature teacher at the Quang Khe High School in the northern province of Bac Kan, said some of the exam questions were close to relevant situations that people were deeply concerned about. They also matched the capacity of most students, she said.

The city had set up 149 exam centres and 20 inspector delegations to monitor the conduct of the examinations, and Deputy Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, visiting several schools where the tests were held yesterday, June 2.

In the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, more than 14,300 candidates set for the exams at 34 centres.

Pham Van Hung, director of the provincial Department of Education and Training, said that the printing and transportation of question papers as well as the proctoring of examinations were done "seriously as per regulations."

More than 1,800 teachers were assigned proctoring duties and nine students in the province quit the exams without stating any reason, he added.

In the southern province of Dong Nai, two candidates and one proctor were injured in traffic accidents after the literature exam yesterday morning and could not attend subsequent exams in the afternoon.

Hung said his department will ensure the affected students' rights based on their academic performance to date.

Meanwhile, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak reported that of almost 24,000 candidates sitting for the examinations, more than 5,300 belonged to ethnic minority communities.