VietNamNet Bridge - While US and Israeli professors are surprised that Vietnamese students scored high on PISA tests, many Vietnamese people wonder why the country remains poor with such good marks on the test. 

 Meat product imports into the Vietnamese market have long been common practice done in accordance with world regulations. However, imports could affect domestic prices and market stability if not taken under full control.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City People’s Committee has submitted to the municipal People’s Council a list of 880 projects that require around 7,000ha of land to be acquired.

 The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) has recently released a Circular guiding some articles of the Labor Code relating to foreign workers in Vietnam.

 Vietnam’s farming exports in the first eleven months of 2016 reached US$29.1 billion, up 5.9% over the same period of last year, with eight commodities each earning more than US$1 billion.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Television Festival 2016 from December 21 to 24 in Lao Cai Province features the best television works of the year, photo exhibitions, talk shows and conferences.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The anti-smuggling police on Tuesday busted a gang that allegedly smuggled large volumes of electronic equipment and parts from China to HCM City.   

 VietNamNet Bridge – One of the most popular charity events in the city, the Giac Mo Dem Mua Dong (A Dream in Winter Night) concert, will be held tonight at the GEM Centre in District 1.

Vietnamese defender Vu Van Thanh’s goal in the second leg semi-final match between Viet Nam and Indonesia on December 7 was named among AFF Suzuki Cup 2016’s top 10 goals by the website affsuzukicup.com

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Phuong Nam Arts Theatre will collaborate with the Happy Dream Circus Japan to dazzle HCM City with a special circus programme beginning this Friday (December 23).

 According to the Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center and Institute of Geophysics, a 3.5-magnitude earthquake occurred in the mountainous A Luoi district of Thua Thien Hue province at 3:23 pm yesterday.

 In 2016, Vietnam has seen the closing of numerous long-delayed steel projects invested by both foreign and domestic enterprises.

In a move to attract new investment capital, the Viglacera Corporation will change its listing from the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) to the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) on December 22 and trade under the code VGC.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has conducted a review and is making preparations for imposing safeguard duties on steel imports, after 18 domestic steel manufacturers called for assistance.

 The Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has a firm grip over the on-going reforms inside the ministry after a series of wrongful appointments by former Minister Vu Huy Hoang.

 50 lacquer, oil and acrylic paintings are being displayed at the exhibition of artist Van Duong Thanh to welcome the lunar year of rooster.

 A survey jointly released by the Ministry of Education and Training and UNICEF has revealed that Vietnamese students face many problems. Less than 20% of students always feel safe at school.

 A new bus route linking Hanoi city centre to Noi Bai International Airport has been launched, offering passengers for VND9,000 (USD0.42).

 The Communist Party Central Secretariat has just asked localities not to organise firework displays for the Tet Lunar New Year.

 Russia’s Kaspersky Lab on December 21 introduced its latest products to protect individuals and small enterprises against online threats.

 FPT Corporation, Viet Nam’s largest information and technology (IT) group, will conclude the selling of its retail unit FPT Shop next year, ICTnews reported yesterday.

 The finance ministry has announced that people who own a house will not have to pay tax for the second house they buy in 2017.

Samsung Viet Nam was estimated to reach US$35 billion this year, posting a 7 per cent year-on-year increase despite the impact from this year’s Note 7 incident.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Bac Giang People’s Procuracy on Tuesday freed Han Duc Long, 57, who was earlier sentenced to death for murder and raping children 11 years ago.

 The Walt Disney Company’s U.S. television arm will create shows for Snap Inc’s Snapchat, Disney announced on Wednesday, in Snapchat's latest deal with a major U.S. media company.