US to continue disaster relief grants to Vietnam

The US Government will continue to provide disaster relief grants to help Viet Nam respond to the severe drought and saltwater intrusion affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the southern provinces and Central Highlands,

Overview of the new cabinet

VietNamNet Bridge - The National Assembly voted to approve the Prime Minister’s appointment of three Deputy Prime Ministers and 18 Ministers and Cabinet members on April 9. Below is an overview of the new cabinet.

CAAV’s plan to build airports in northwest raises controversy

VietNamNet Bridge - Aviation experts believe that it would be a waste to spend VND10 trillion to build three airports in the northwest.

Coral Island – the pearl of Ninh Thuan

 VietNamNet Bridge - At dawn, water drains out of the island surface, revealing the green mossy rocks on the San Ho (Coral) Island of Ninh Thuan Province.

Indian temple blaze kills 100, more than 380 injured

 A fire and explosions during a fireworks display to mark the start of the local Hindu new year killed 100 people and injured more than 380 at a temple in India's southern Kerala state on Sunday.

Strong earthquake shakes buildings across South Asia

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck South Asia on Sunday, shaking buildings in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, witnesses and the U.S. Geological Survey said, and injuring several people in at least one Pakistani city.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/4

 Transport firms seek more incentives for CNG buses, Eximbank gets new general director, Vietnam to have more real estate investment funds, FDI inflow to Vietnam up 125.2 percent in first quarter

Analogue transmission signals to end in major cities

 The Steering Committee for Digitising Television Plans will stop transmitting to all analogue televisions (TVs) in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Can Tho, and HCM City starting on August 15.

’Indochina Memories’ memoir discussed

 VietNamNet Bridge – Over a century after Paul Doumer, former governor general of French Indochina, wrote his memoir on the Indochinese, his book continues to attract Vietnamese and foreign experts among the public.

Teen tales hit shelves amid growing demand

 VietNamNet Bridge – After a hiatus of several years, talented writer Doan Thach Bien has written two books, both of which were released in HCM City this week.

Burden of unofficial expenses on businesses in Vietnam

The burden of unofficial costs is weighing on enterprises in Vietnam, and it is rising year by year. The bigger the businesses are, the more they are inspected by relevant bodies, found the provincial competitive index survey in 2015.

Legal loopholes allow illegal building in national parks

VietNamNet Bridge - Many illegal buildings in national parks have been discovered even though investors have paid fines.

4-ton bronze statue is national treasure of Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – A 4-ton bronze statue named Huyen Thien Tran Vu at Tran Vu Temple, Thach Ban Ward, Long Bien District in Hanoi has been recognized as a national treasure.

Vietnam loses big money on iron ore export ban

VietNamNet Bridge - The iron ore export ban has caused Vietnam to fail to collect tens of trillions of dong, while the continued steel production from iron ore has caused the environment to be seriously polluted.

Children are eager to making ‘banh troi’ for Cold Food Festival

To teach the meaning of the traditional Tet Han Thuc (Cold Food Festival) to children as well as bring joy and excitement to students, many schools in Hanoi provide lessons on making 'banh troi' and 'banh chay'.

Nguyen Tien Minh enters men's singles final at Finnish badminton tournament

  Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh advanced into the final of the men’s singles at the ongoing Finnish Open 2016 after beating Kestutis Navickas from Lithuania 2-0 on April 9.

US$270 million for World Bank environment project

Over $273.95 million will be spent on improving the environment in Phan Rang city in Ninh Thuan province, Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province, Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh province, and Dong Hoi in Quang Binh province.

Teachers complain about outdated textbooks

VietNamNet Bridge - Teachers and students still have to use textbooks which contain outdated and inaccurate  information. 

Ministry censures Tan Duc Industrial Park

The Ministry of Planning and Investment sent a message to Long An last week, urging the provincial authorities to take stronger actions to reassure foreign investors following a dispute over fee payments between a Japanese firm and Tan Duc IP.

Students' research on iris biometrics technology recognized in journal

A research work by two Vietnamese university students on iris biometrics has been recognized by the Journal of KIIT, a prestigious scientific publication, which is heartening news for the Vietnamese community of young scientists.

Details of multi-level marketing crackdown published soon

  The Ministry of Industry and Trade aims to announce the results of the investigation into seven multi-level marketing companies this May.

Experts make proposals to preserve HCM City water

 Local and international experts have proposed solutions to help HCM City secure its short- and long-term water supply.

Southern provinces shifts to compressed natural gas

 Officials from the transport sectors of southern provinces urged the Government to issue special policies to encourage the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in public transportation.

Giant ice entertainment venue in HCM City

  Saigon Polar Expo, a newly established ice entertainment venue, will be opened to the public next Thursday at Him Lam new urban area in District 7, HCMC.

Biographies of three new Deputy PMs

 Truong Hoa Binh, Vuong Dinh Hue and Trinh Dinh Dung have been assigned to the post of Deputy Prime Ministers by the National Assembly.