Awards open to foreign press

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National External Information Service Awards 2015, held by the Central Committee's Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service,

U23s draw with Japan's Cerezo Osaka

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's U23 tied 2-2 with Japanese Cerezo Osaka FC in a friendly match yesterday (Dec 17) in Ha Noi.

Tennis star Ly Hoang Nam aims for world's top 500 ranking

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's top tennis player, Ly Hoang Nam, is hoping to make it into to the world's top 500 ranked players next year.

Minh enters third round of Mexico Grand Prix

 VietNamNet Bridge – Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh entered the third round of the men's singles event at the US$50,000 Mexico Grand Prix yesterday morning (December 17).

Two men sentenced to death for murder

VietNamNet Bridge – The People's Court of the southern province of Binh Phuoc yesterday (Dec 17) sentenced Nguyen Hai Duong and Vu Van Tien, both 24, to death on charges of murdering six family members in their home and robbing VND50 million

Mong ethnic festival added to Vietnam’s intangible cultural heritage

Nao pe chau, a festival of the Mong ethnic group in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, was recognised as part of the national intangible cultural heritage at a ceremony in Nam Pong Village, Muong Dang Commune, Muong Ang District,

Vietnam operates 1,500 kidney transplants

 Vietnamese doctors have successfully performed 1,500 kidney transplants, 50 liver transplants and 13 heart cases to date.

HCM City spends $444 million for flooding control

  The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on December 17 chose Trungnam Group to implement the phase 1 of a project to control flooding caused by tides in the City.

Photo contest promotes Vietnam’s tourism

 A photo contest themed “Vietnam today” was launched in Hanoi on December 17, aiming to promote the country’s tourism in the eyes of domestic and international tourists.

Over 60 foreign art troupes to attend Hue Festival 2016

 More than 60 art troupes from 47 countries worldwide will join 53 local ones in the 2016 Hue Festival, which will take place in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue from April 29 to May 4, 2016.

European Parliament adopts Vietnam-EU partnership agreement

 The European Parliament (EP) adopted an official resolution ratifying the Vietnam – EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), at a plenary session in Strasbourg city, France, on December 17.

Thais taking firm steps towards Vietnamese market

VietNamNet Bridge - The business fields that Thais have poured money to in Vietnam – infrastructure, building materials, retail, consumer goods, food and automobiles – are all fields with great potential.

Terraced fields - a man-made wonder

 VietNamNet Bridge – Terraced fields are recognised by the State as national scenic places and appreciated by international mass media as the peak of beauty crystallised by Vietnamese culture and labour.

Vietnamese juniors pocket medals at int’l science Olympiad

 All six Vietnamese students attending the 12th International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) held in the Republic of Korea brought home medals, according to the Hanoi municipal Department of Education and Training.

Government News In Brief

 Party Central Committee’s meeting enters 4th working day, DPRK Ambassador vows to boost relations with Vietnam, Cambodian Senate President concludes Vietnam visit, Vietnamese General greets Cuban guest

VN, Indonesia end meeting on maritime economic zones

 Viet Nam and Indonesia wrapped up the 7th technical meeting on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone in Ha Noi yesterday after three days.

Vietnam calls for dialogue to protect human rights in Burundi

 Vietnam has called for dialogue and reconciliation to ensure security and human rights in Burundi in the wake of mounting violence in the African nation.

French Senate ratifies Vietnam-EU agreement

 The Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) sailed through the Senate of France in Paris on December 17 with 100 percent of the vote.

VN Airlines to expand operation in Indonesia, performs well in Australia, RoK

 VietNamNet Bridge – The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines conducted 365 flights between Vietnam and Indonesia in 2015, carrying more than 100,000 passengers and over 1,000 tonnes of cargos.

Vietnam successfully produces Porcilis PRRS vaccine

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has successfully produced a vaccine to combat the Porcilis Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), which is also known as “Blue Ear Pig Disease”, according to the Vietnam Veterinary Association (VVA).

Vietnam to import 20,000 electric taxis

 VietNamNet Bridge – Up to 20,000 electric cars made by Renault will be shipped to Vietnam within the next five years by the Mai Linh Group.

Will foreign investors leave because the domestic market is too small?

VietNamNet Bridge - Some foreign investors have warned that they may leave Vietnam because of unfavorable conditions to do business. However, Vietnamese businesses and analysts believe they will stay in the country.

Vietnamese prize-winning students all wish to study overseas

VietNamNet Bridge - Nearly all high school students who won top prizes at competitions for excellent students, when asked about their future plans, said they want to study abroad.

Online payment system challenges domestic bankers

VietNamNet Bridge - Domestic banks are struggling to compete with foreign banks, which are powerful in online payment technology, and with businesses applying online payment methods.

Vietnam's afforestation program fails

VietNamNet Bridge - Thousands of hectares of forests have been cleared to make room for industrial crops, but many project investors have ‘forgotten’ to plant new forests to compensate for land that was cleared.