Overseas Vietnamese singer returns home to release autobiography

 The leading Vietnamese singer of the late 20th century, Ai Van, returned to HCM City from the US on Friday to announce the release of her 300-page autobiography.     

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 8/5

 Haiphong finds funding for airport project, Shrimp export sales expected to recover after difficult 2015, New pressure and motivation for public debts, Banks reduce G-bond purchases, Panama to check Vietnam tra fish processors

Lifter Thach Kim Tuan confident of Olympic success

 Weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan believes he will have completely recovered from injury and could win medal at the approaching Olympics in Brazil.

The biggest-ever kite festival in northern Vietnam in pictures

 VietNamNet Bridge – The festival took place at Ecopark, a new urban residential area in the northern province of Hung Yen, some 13km from Hanoi’s center on April 30-May 3.

Frenchman falls for VN coffee

 VietNamNet Bridge – Coffee, one of Viet Nam’s worldwide renowned specialties, was introduced to the country in 1875 by the French during their colonialisation of Indochina. Coffee plantations were located in the Central Highlands

A bond that goes beyond husband and wife

 VietNamNet Bridge – When two people decide to marry, each makes a pledge that the other will be the most significant and important one in their lives.

HCM City student heads to Brazil as youth leader

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Lam Thao Tam, a 10th grade student from HCM City was chosen from more than 7,000 Vietnamese students to join the Education First’s Youth Leadership Forum in Brazil in August.

Flood of tears as climate change bites

Farmers in the Mekong Delta can only stand by and watch their fields wither and die from salt water intrusion and drought.

Artist presents paintings that blossom from canvas

 With clay flowers becoming a popular trend in recent years in Vietnam, artisan Huong Thuy is displaying her unique artwork at an exhibition that opened in Hanoi yesterday.

Tan Hiep Phat’s boss may be VN's second USD billionaire

VietNamNet Bridge - The owner of Tan Hiep Phat, one of the largest privately run conglomerates, could be the second Vietnamese dollar billionaire, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Vietnamese Government targets one million businesses by 2020

 The Government expects the number of businesses in Vietnam to rise to one million by 2020, and the private sector to account for 48-49% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Rolling weirs on Red River may bring fatal dangers: experts

VietNamNet Bridge - While the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) insists on the plan to build 5-7 rolling weirs across the Red River to regulate the river’s water level, experts have warned about dangers that could occur.

Unemployment rate increases slightly in first three months

 VietNamNet Bridge – The unemployment rate in Ha Noi has increased slightly in the first three months of this year, with 7,113 people registered for unemployment insurance benefits,

Colonel shares peacekeeping experiences

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Lieutenant Colonel from the Viet Nam Peace Keeping Centre, talked about his two years of experience working at the UN Peace Keeping Centre

Artist creates ornamental tiles from coconut shells

 VietNamNet Bridge – A graduate from the HCM City University of Fine Arts is using coconut shells for ornamental tiles to develop his small business in his home province of Phu Yen.

TPP may upset local agricultural firms

 Vietnam’s agricultural produce will face strong competition from the US as the Trans-Pacific Partnership requires it to eliminate import tariffs on many US products.

Simple wooden boats in Tam Coc

 VietNamNet Bridge – Tam Coc is a famous tourist site in the northern province of Ninh Binh and simple wooden boats on the Ngo Dong River are one of its attractions.

More women get behind the wheel as xe om drivers to make ends meet

 VietNamNet Bridge – In HCM City, many foreign tourists enjoy a city tour by xe om (motorcycle taxi), a special service for local people mostly offered by poor men.

International hot-air balloon festival in Hue

 Nine countries including Britain, the Netherlands, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam participated in the international hot-air balloon festival in Hue City.

Anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese fish too high

 VietNamNet Bridge – Over the last few years, firms exporting Vietnamese basa and tra fish fillets to the US have faced severe problems due to a sudden increase in anti-dumping duties.

Traditional work of the Ha Nhi

 Settling in high mountains for hundreds of year, the Ha Nhi depend on agricultural production on terraced fields.

Pioneering Japanese florist from Da Lat City

 A Japanese entrepreneur who studied agronomy and horticulture has brought his dream of following in his father’s footsteps and operating a floral growing and distribution business to life.

Investment comes for support industries

  Moves are underway to provide Vietnam’s textiles sector with the support industries it desperately needs to benefit from greater integration

Quang Ninh vows to ensure safety for tourists in Ha Long Bay

 The northern province of Quang Ninh is taking all possible measures to ensure absolute safety for tourists when visiting the locality, home to UNESCO-recognised world natural heritage Ha Long Bay.

Ceremony marks Dien Bien Phu victory

 A grand ceremony celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, which ended French colonial rule in the country, was held in Dien Bien Phu city in the northwestern province of Dien Bien on May 7.