Actress Anne Hathaway named as goodwill ambassador to promote women's rights

Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway has been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women, a role which will focus on addressing the unequal burden shouldered by women caring for children in the home, 

Ha Giang’s stunning terraced rice fields

 Lying some 110 kilometres west of Ha Giang Town, Hoang Su Phi's terraced rice fields raised by the silt from the Chay River, and are regarded as the most beautiful in the area thanks to the special terrain and fertile soil.

Vietnam, Czech Republic to boost multi-faceted ties

 Vice President ​Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and leaders of the Czech Republic have agreed to bolster ties across the fields during their meetings on June 15 as part of the Vietnamese Vice President’s visit to the European country.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/6

 Firms await more incentives to invest in HCMC, Textile exports inch up 6.1% in first five months, Vinamilk’s organic products meet US standards, Vietnam may have new agency to manage state enterprises

Foreign military attachés tour Vietnam’s naval units

 Foreign military attachés were taken on a tour of several units of the Vietnam People’s Navy in the northern city of Hai Phong on June 15, the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) daily reported.

HCM City steps up efforts to attract big investors

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City has set an ambitious goal to become a value-added service centre similar to other East Asian cities, attracting investment from world-renowned corporations.

Temp residents need to register

 VietNamNet Bridge – Increased numbers of people flocking to cities for work and study make renting a thriving business, but managing temporary residences for migrants has emerged as a new burden for cities.

Fed keeps interest rates unchanged, signals fewer future hikes

 The U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and signaled it still planned to raise rates twice in 2016, though it said slower economic growth would crimp the pace of monetary policy tightening in future years.

From green slime to jet fuel: algae offers airlines a cleaner future

 As airlines struggle to find cleaner ways to power jets and with an industry-wide meeting on CO2 emissions just months away, scientists are busy growing algae in vast open tanks at an Airbus site at Ottobrun, near Munich.

Delivery service: who is the fastest?

VietNamNet Bridge - It is estimated that 70-80 million packages need to be delivered in 2016, creating a market large enough for many players.

North-south train services resume this month

 The new Ghenh Bridge, a railway bridge connecting Binh Duong Province’s Di An Station and Dong Nai Province’s Bien Hoa Station, will open on June 26.

HCM City reports 170 child sexual abuse cases a year

 Around 170 cases of child sexual abuse are prosecueted  in HCM City every year, according to the city People’s Procuracy.

President meets Cambodian legislature, government leaders

President Tran Dai Quang met leaders of Cambodian legislature and government in Phnom Penh on June 15.

Laos wishes to boost sci-tech cooperation with HCM City

Laos hopes for support from authorities in Ho Chi Minh City to facilitate joint science and technology projects, said Lao Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara at a meeting with HCMC Vice Chairman Le Thanh Liem.

Vietnam wins 20 places in 2016 Olympics

 Vietnamese sports has won 20 places in 10 sports to the 2016 Summer Olympics that will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5-21, according to the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

Sugar shortage looming

 The Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association (VSSA) said on June 14 that the 2015-2016 harvest was down by nearly 200,000 tons compared to the previous harvest while demand has increased by 100,000 tons.

Discovering Chieng Khoi Lake, mountains, caves and culture

VietNamNet Bridge – Riding a boat on Chieng Khoi Lake, you may find yourself feeling somewhat insignificant in the face of expansive mountains and endless water.

Social News 16/6

 Rare animals rescued in Hanoi, KOICA helps Vietnam recover from post-war bombs, mines, Thailand donates 100,000 USD to Vietnam’s drought sufferers, Vietnamese-funded military facilities inaugurated in Cambodia

Technology products remain ‘gold mine’ for retailers

VietNamNet Bridge - Hi-tech products, which are frequently updated and offer new features, remain in high demand, generating big profits. 

HCM City a hub for illegal animal trade

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City is one of the hotspots of illegal trade and consumption of wildlife and plants, experts have said. 

‘There is plenty of foreign interest’ in Viet Nam property market: consultant

Property specialists talk about Vietnam's property market, especially the opportunities and challenges as the country continues to integrate and recently began to allow foreigners to buy property.

HCMC wants to compile textbooks for general education

VietNamNet Bridge - HCMC’s leaders have asked for a special education policy under which educators will compile sets of textbooks to be used by city students.

S4VN aims for transparency of academic environment

Scientometrics for Vietnam, or S4VN, has been measuring and analyzing research achievements gained by domestic university training establishments and providing information for free on www.scientometrics4vn.com. 

French ballerina leaps from Paris to California

 VietNamNet Bridge – French star ballet dancer Mathilde Froustey will perform in Ha Noi on Saturday with other artists from different countries at the first ever Paris-Ballet concert in Viet Nam.

HCM City eyes multinationals

 VietNamNet Bridge – The government of HCMC has unveiled an ambitious plan to turn itself into a center for multinational corporations to fuel growth and compete with other Southeast Asian cities to lure foreign investment.