Hanoi leader welcomes Hungarian, Singaporean, UK officials

 Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Nguyen Duc Chung hoped for more stellar developments in the relations between Hanoi and Budapest during a reception for visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.

Saigon Classical to stage series of concerts in 2016

The free entrance Aufschwung concert will take place at the Southern Women’s Museum in HCMC’s District 3 at 7 p.m. on Saturday, marking the start of a series of events which the Saigon Classical Music Group will organize this year.

EU food safety watchdog hits back at scientists in glyphosate spat

 The head of Europe's food safety watchdog has written to a group of nearly 100 senior scientists strongly rejecting their criticisms in an ongoing row about the safety of weed-killer ingredient glyphosate.

Vietnamese steel manufacturers warn about “Formosa danger”

VietNamNet Bridge - Formosa could be a “long-term danger for all domestic structural steel manufacturers”, experts have warned.

Vietnam man fined for mermaid photo hoax

VietNamNet Bridge – A repairer of cell phones in the central province of Quang Nam has to pay VND5 million ($230) fine for a mermaid photo hoax.

Saigon restaurant buys 130kg endangered giant barb

 VietNamNet Bridge – A restaurant in District 3 in HCM City on January 12 bought a red giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis) from a trader in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.

Danang submarine to arrive at Cam Ranh Port in late January

 VietNamNet Bridge – The submarine named Danang is expected to arrive at Cam Ranh Bay in Khanh Hoa Province in late January 2016.

Entertainment project fined for encroaching on Nha Trang Bay

The authorities of Khanh Hoa province have imposed a VND200 million (nearly $10,000) fine on the investor of Nha Trang Sao Culture-Entertainment-Sports Park for encroaching on Nha Trang Bay, a national heritage site.

WB: Growth prospects for Vietnam among strongest

 The World Bank’s January 2016 Global Economic Prospects report, released on January 6, puts Vietnam among emerging countries in the world with the strongest growth prospects.

Travel firms worried about further fall in Russian arrivals

Vietnamese travel firms and service providers for Russian visitors have been rattled by the Russian tourism authority’s decision to stop renewing licenses for a number of Russian travel agencies.

Hue Festival 2016 shortened six days

 The 2016 Hue Festival has been shortened from 10 to six days from April 29 to May 4, announced Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien- Hue Nguyen Dung.

New General Manager for IBM Vietnam

 IBM has appointed Mr. Eric CW Yeo as the Country General Manager of IBM Vietnam, taking over from Mr. Jee Toon Tan, who has been named Regional Director for ASEAN Analytics.

Young Vietnamese students improving reading abilities, Education Ministry

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese students in grades one, two and three have shown signs of improving their reading skills, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) reported.

Hoa Sen University gets US accreditation

 VietNamNet Bridge – Five academic majors of Hoa Sen University's Faculty of Economics & Commerce have been accredited by the US Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programmes (ACBSP).

Goods replaced as supermarkets change hands

VietNamNet Bridge - Big changes can be seen in the range of products displayed at supermarkets after the supermarkets fall into new hands.

Photos: Sleepless nights at Hanoi’s largest vegetable market

 VietNamNet Bridge – The wholesale market of Van Quan in Ha Dong district supplies a huge amount of vegetables for Hanoi. It is always bustling from 11pm until 6 am the next day.

HCM City urged to recruit non-natives for gov't posts

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City's Department of Home Affairs has recommended the city government should recruit people from other localities as officials, a practice it has so far refrained from, to enlarge its talent base.

Entertainment News 13/1

 Electronic Music with La Fine Equipe, Vung Tau festival hosts 70 artists, troupes, Hue to host international circus festival in Mayi, Music, culture festival recognises Japanese New Year, Hue to host international circus festival in May

Car owners complain about regulations on equipping their cars with fire extinguisher

 Car owners across the country have been hot under the collar the past few days after the government required them to equip their vehicles with fire extinguishers.

Hanoi removes strange flowers near Hoan Kiem Lake

 As the Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, a number of public places are being upgraded to make the capital more beautiful.

Saigon man allows residents to rip money from suit

 A short clip recorded scenes of a young man dressed in his stylish suit with money attached to it have recently caught the attention of net citizens.

Miura announces his U23 team for AFC event

 Toshiya Miura announced the player list of the Viet Nam U23 team to compete in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship's final round in Qatar on Monday.

El Nino impacts to linger in first half of 2016

VietNamNet Bridge – El Nino is forecast to continue its strong impacts in Vietnam in the first months of 2016 and abate in early summer. 

Artists support rocker with cancer with Saturday concert

 Members of the famous Vietnamese rock band Buc Tuong (The Wall) will rock the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre for a night concert aimed to support its leader Tran Lap, who is in a battle fighting cancer.

Cross-cultural art portrays Morocco, Vietnam

 Landscapes and heritage of Morocco and Viet Nam are featured at an exhibition by artist Naima R Deniale, the wife of the Moroccan Ambassador to Viet Nam.