Thousands of youth voluntarily sign up for military service

 Thousands of young people across the country voluntarily departed for military service today (Feb. 14), the Vietnam Military High Command has said.

Thailand sweep Vietnam 5-0 in Asian badminton event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Thailand beat Viet Nam 5-0 in the first Group C match of Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships held in HCM City yesterday.

Textile firm investigated for pollution

VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Environment Administration (VEA) will collaborate with the Hai Duong Department of Environment to tackle the “environmental incident” recently caused by a Chinese textile company,

2017 MTV Europe Music Awards to be held in 'musical epicenter' London

 The MTV Europe Music Awards will take place in London this year, more than 20 years since the ceremony was last held in the British capital, channel MTV said on Tuesday.

TV show on Japanese-Vietnamese love affair to air in Japan

 VietNamNet Bridge – A TV show about the love between a Japanese reporter and Vietnamese student will air in Japan early next month.

Social News 15/2

 Hanoi looks to develop model “garden city” urban area, Quang Nam works to ensure security for APEC events, WB experts assist Binh Dinh’s post-disaster rebuilding effort, Binh Thuan aims to become national sea tourism-sports centre

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/2

 Vietnam appeals for more support from int’l agriculture fund, Agriculture ministry vows to push forward with SOE equitisation, Dozen resort investors in Ke Ga insist on compensation, 

New US visa policy worries Vietnamese travelers

VietNamNet Bridge - The new US visa policy will have adverse effects on Vietnamese students and travelers who want to go to the US, experts have warned.

Spokespersons’ details to be publicised

 VietNamNet Bridge – Names, designations, telephone numbers and email addresses of spokespersons should be submitted in writing to the press state management agency, as per a new government decree.

Asia stocks at 19-month peak, dollar up as Yellen puts March rate hike in play

 Asian stocks scaled 19-month peaks on Wednesday thanks to a record-setting night on Wall Street after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen flagged a possible interest rate hike next month,

National tennis champs to kick off next month

 The National Women’s Tennis Championship will be organised on March 17-24 in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province.

Mountain bike race to be held in Da Lat

 Dalat Victory Challenge, a mountain bike race, will be organised on March 24-26 in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province.

Pianists gear up for contest in town

 The Music Training and Development Center under the HCM City Conservatory of Music will host the HCM City Piano Competition 2017 for local and international amateur and professional contestants aged between 6 and 24 from June 14-18.

Vietnamese model enters Top 6 at Mister International 2017

 Vietnamese representative Nguyen Tien Dat entered Top 6 of Mister International 2017 on the final night in Bangkok, Thailand on February 13.

Mosque - center of solidarity of Cham ethnic people in Tay Ninh

 Tay Ninh province has more than 3,000 Cham people who practice Islam. Their mosques are also cultural centers promoting solidarity among the Cham villages.

Vietnam Earth Hour 2017 ambassadors named

 Names of celebrity ambassadors for the Vietnam Earth Hour 2017, a worldwide volunteer movement dedicated to saving the planet, have been announced, reports the Phap Luat online newspaper.

Vietnam's six Kilo-class submarines in close up

 Vietnam has so far received six 636 kilo-class submarines from Russia to modernise and enhance the capacity of its navy forces to defend the country's territorial waters.

U.S. business in China warms to possible Trump trade policy shake-up

 "Reciprocity" has become the new buzzword in the U.S. business community in China, with some industry leaders saying they would welcome a tougher approach from the Trump administration

Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day in Saigon

 On the morning of February 14, Nguyen Van Cu Street in Ho Chi Minh City was dubbed the ‘pathway of love’ decked with a galore of brilliantly coloured gifts and flowers for that special person in one’s life.

Facebook launches app for watching its videos on TV

 Facebook Inc is launching an app for smart TVs that will help the social network's users enjoy its videos on a bigger screen.

Drug-resistant malaria spread concerns experts

 VietNamNet Bridge – An increase in drug- resistant malaria cases in many regions nationwide is of growing concern to community health, health experts are warning.

Unqualified works at schools stopped: Ministry official

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training will soon officially ask that schools nationwide review their facilities and stop using any deemed to be unsafe,

HCM City projects to prevent landslides to cost $75m

HCM City will undertake 14 projects to prevent erosion, including dredging of vulnerable waterways, at a cost of over VND1.7 trillion (US$75 million) this year, according to its Inland Waterway Management Division.

Japanese firms plan Viertnam expansion: report

 More than 60% of Japanese firms operating in Vietnam have intentions to expand their business here to cash in on the improved investment climate, a survey by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) has revealed.

Supporting industry to get sustained Gov’t help

 The Government plans to provide wide-ranging assistance to the domestic supporting industry so that they can increase supplies of parts and components to both local and foreign firms and better participate in the global production chain.