Universities urged to improve quality of English teaching

Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha called on universities nationwide to boost the quality of English teaching to ensure that students dramatically improve their foreign language skills.

Vietnam to host 4th ASEAN Children’s Forum

  Vietnam will host the fourth ASEAN Children’s Forum from June 20-23 in Hanoi.

Steel imports rise to all-time record high

Steel imports into Vietnam surged in the first quarter of 2016 to their highest level on record, in spite of government efforts to stem the tide of shipments from overseas, particularly those from China, the largest producer.

Gold miner Besra Vietnam suffers massive losses

Canadian Besra Inc.’s Besra Vietnam, the operator of two gold mines in Quang Nam, has suffered a loss of over VND1 trillion ($44.7 million) with a short-term debt volume of VND2.5 trillion ($111.7 million).

Vietnam among best Culinary Hotspots for Solo Travelers

 Vietnam has been ranked 10th among 2016 Culinary Hotspots for Solo Travelers by TourBar.com, a travel website and app.

Futsal teams to compete at HCM City Open

VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Futsal Open will be organised on June 21-26 with the participation of eight teams. 

Vietnam's major cities to celebrate International Yoga Day

 VietNamNet Bridge – Up to 10,000 people will join International Yoga Day festivities in big cities in Viet Nam this June 18 to July 2.

Cambodian press: Vietnamese President’s visit to lift traditional ties

 President Tran Dai Quang’s State visit to Cambodia from June 14-16 shows Vietnam’s special attention to fostering and promoting traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, the Rasmei Kampuchea said.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh meets Chinese Foreign Minister

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Yunnan, China, on June 13 on the sideline of the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Vietnam proposes more IPU activities for female parliamentarians

  Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh said she hopes the Inter-Parliamentary Union will increase activities for female parliamentarians, during her meeting with IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong in Geneva on June 13.

Vietnamese photographer wins top prize at Greek photo contest

 The photo “The bedroom of General Huy” earned Lao dong (Labour) newspaper photojournalist Tran Viet Van a first prize at the Greek Photometria Awards 2016 themed “Home”.

Too little sleep linked to health problems in children, teens

 Updated sleep recommendations for children and teens point to the benefits of getting enough sleep and the dangers of getting too little.

Vietnam’s coal remains unsold, while coal imports increase sharply

VietNamNet Bridge - While customs agencies reported a sharp increase in coal imports, the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) reported a high inventory level of 10 million tons.

Beautiful coral reefs under the sea of Binh Thuan

VietNamNet Bridge - The waters surrounding Hon Cau Island in Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province has the typically tropical marine ecosystem, with diverse corals and fauna system.

Too fat, too thin: Report finds malnutrition fuels disease worldwide

 A third of people worldwide are either undernourished or overweight, driving increasing rates of disease and piling pressure on health services, a global report showed on Tuesday.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/6

 Central, Central Highlands eye 8.8 pct rise in industrial production, Dong Nai pledges to tackle obstacles facing Japanese firms, Petroleum product imports from ASEAN increased, SBV moves to reassure property investors

Experts oppose tax exemption for VN tycoon

 Some experts expressed concerns about business inequality after the Ministry of Finance asked the Government to exempt automobile import duties for a tourism investor in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

Four Indian artists to travel Vietnam in July

 VietNamNet Bridge – The most famous Indian artists of the film named "8-year old bride" including Roop Durgapal, Siddharth Shukla, Avinash Mukherjee and Aasiya Kazi will visit Vietnam in July, aiming to meet Vietnamese media & audiences.

Hanoi police smash soccer betting ring

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi Police have busted an online soccer betting ring allegedly led by Nguyen Ngoc Quang, 39, who resides in Dong Da District’s Trung Liet Ward.

Summer brings new VN films

 VietNamNet Bridge – Private film companies are releasing dramas, fantasies and comedies this summer as cinemas in HCM City continue to screen more locally made movies.

VN female fencer to compete at Rio Olympics

 VietNamNet Bridge – Fencer Do Thi Anh has become Viet Nam’s 20th athlete to qualify for the Rio Olympics this summer.

Vu wins national motor racing championships

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Chi Anh Vu triumphed in the National Motor Racing Championships’ men’s 135-150cc race on June 11 at Dong Thap Province’s Cao Lanh Stadium. 

Miss Vietnam 2016 pageant names finalists

 Eighteen women from southern and central provinces have been chosen to compete in the final round of the Miss Vietnam 2016 pageant in HCM City in August.

1.7kg of cocaine seized at Tan Son Nhat airport

 Several illegal drug transport cases have been discovered at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City recently, according to the airport customs division.

Waste-sorting, recycling project in Hanoi no longer active

VietNamNet Bridge - The pilot project on sorting domestic waste at source funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has fallen into oblivion years after it kicked off.