Delegates to the 12th National Party Congress paid floral tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on January 20 ahead of the preparatory session of the Congress.

The vast natural and cultural treasures of southern Viet Nam, exemplified by unique folk traditions and festivals, lush green rice fields, forests and stunningly beautiful islands, will be the fitting focus of National Tourism Year 2016.

 Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural, named the world's largest ceramic mosaic by the Guinness Book of Records, is crumbling with neglect.

 Police break up HCM City meth ring, Social, health insurance to cover 72.4 million people, New park to green up capital, EVN to not adjust power price in 2016, Islet of Ly Son Island to get power access before Tet

VietNamNet Bridge - Eight out of the 20 richest stock millionaires in Vietnam are real estate developers. They hold assets higher in value than anyone else in other business fields.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Saigon Hi-tech Park (SHTP) recently issued an investment certificate to Malaysia's United More SDN Bhd for a US$21 million plant to manufacture high-precision plastic products for smart TVs.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Beautiful images of Saigon can be found in a new guidebook called “Saigon Zoom In”, a joint effort of local and foreign photographers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Currency exchange shops are busier than ever as the Tet (Lunar New Year) nears. With such demand, the likelihood of overcharging customers increases.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The 2015 list of the 500 richest stockholders in Vietnam reveals that nearly one-fifth are in the real estate sector.

VietNamNet Bridge – The National Convention Centre in Hanoi, which hosts the 12th National Party Congress from January 20 to 28, has been decorated with flags and flowers to prepare for the opening ceremony.

 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked for amending overlapping regulations, including the operations of government units as part of administrative reform efforts for the new tenure.

 Vietnam has asked China not to conduct oil drilling and promptly pull its Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig out of the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh said on January 19.

VietNamNet Bridge – The giant turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi reportedly died in the afternoon of January 19. This was shocking news to Hanoians in particular and Vietnamese in general.

 Delegates heading to the upcoming 12th National Party Congress expressed their confidence in the success of the significant political event, which is expected to boost national development and reforms in a rapid and sustainable manner.

 The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on January 15 announced it’s list of the top 10 tourism activities and events in 2015.

  The world's oldest man, a Japanese who died at the age of 112, said his secret to a long life was not to smoke, drink or overdo it.

  Some 150 journalists from more than 20 foreign media organisations will be covering the Vietnam's 12th National Party Congress in Hanoi from January 20-28.

 The uninterrupted cold front is forecasted to affect directly to the northern region by January 21, reported the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center yesterday.

Work will begin on Nguyen Hue Flower Street in HCM City next Thursday, five days earlier than scheduled, as the project will cover the entire pedestrian area on Nguyen Hue Boulevard, which will be far larger than in previous years.

Olympic and tourism officials in Brazil downplayed risks for foreign visitors from the mosquito-borne Zika virus on Monday, even as the health ministry warned pregnant women to consult doctors before visiting the country amid a widening scare.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A tamarind tree of over 100 years old, weighing more than 2 tons in the shape of a dragon, owned by gardener Nguyen Kim Tan in Thu Duc district is one of the most special tamarind trees in Saigon and Vietnam.

 Events in Vietnam's major cities from Jan.15 to 30. Daily updated

 Glenn Frey, the prolific guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Eagles, died on Monday at age 67, the American rock band known for "Hotel California" and dozens of other hits said on its website.

European shares fell on Monday, following Asia lower and led by banks after the European Central Bank said it would quiz euro zone lenders about high levels of bad loans, while oil prices tumbled on the prospect of more supply from Iran.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport has approved a circular permitting drivers traveling in residential areas to increase their maximum speed by 10km/h compared to current laws.