Vietnamese football and lesson from the Thai

Since the 18th Southeast Asian Games in 1995 when Vietnam made the men’s football final for the first time since its reintegration into the largest regional sporting arena, Vietnam’s national football team have beaten Thailand just twice

School entrance exams modified

 VietNamNet Bridge – Bui Van Ga, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, spoke to Viet Nam News Agency about changes in the organisation of high school graduation and college entrance exams for 2016.

VAV, helpful application for Vietnamese smartphone users

An IT application called “Virtual Assistant for Vietnamese” (VAV) developed by the MDN-Team from the University of Engineering and Technology of the Vietnam National University in Hanoi has been gaining popularity among smartphone users.

San Chay ethnic minority group boasts unique wedding customs

VietNamNet Bridge – The San Chay ethnic minority in northeastern Bac Giang Province have preserved their wedding customs with cultural characteristics that have survived the test of time.  

Phu Quoc set to become special economic zone

 Phu Quoc island district in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is set to become a special economic zone and the locality’s growth driver between 2016-2020.

Binh Dinh's nem fuses sweet, sour and spicy

VietNamNet Bridge – Nem Cho Huyen (Cho Huyen pork roll) has a one-of-a-kind flavour that reflects the distinctive culinary culture of the central province of Binh Dinh. 

School students in poor health

 Health issues affecting school students have been on the rise in Vietnam recently, according to the General Department of Preventive Medicine.

Hiring overseas Vietnamese as managers, why not?

Intellectual resources, especially overseas Vietnamese, will be mobilized through policies that guarantee not only material interests but also related rights, from intellectual property to the patent, the invention created in Vietnam.

VNPT plans expanding to equipment production

 Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) is planning an expansion in equipment manufacturing, adding to its current three main operations namely infrastructure, mobile network and media services.

Vietnamese folk tales translated into English

 Some of Viet Nam's most popular folk tales can now be read in English in a book set to be published in Viet Nam.

Hanoi’s 1st urban railway ready in December

 Hanoi’s first urban railway running from Cat Linh to Ha Dong will be inaugurated in late December this year, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Foreign investors eye local market

 VietNamNet Bridge – Several foreign businesses are attentive to recent developments and want to shift their investments into Viet Nam as they see big opportunities of big Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Free Trade Agreements

Vietnam scenic spots to appear in "Kong: Skull Island"

 VietNamNet Bridge – The "Kong: Skull Island" film crew arrived in Vietnam on February 18 to shoot some scenes in Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Son Doong Cave.

“Selfie" photo of ASEAN leaders attracts netizens

A “selfie” photo featuring Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other ASEAN leaders at the US-ASEAN Summit in California posted on the Facebook page of the Singaporean PM attracts special attention of the online community.

Female prisoner facing death penalty is pregnant

 VietNamNet Bridge – Four police officers in Quang Ninh province have been suspended from work for clarifying their responsibilities in a special case: a female prisoner under death penalty is pregnant.

President underlines VN sovereignty in Lang Son Cemetery visit

 President Truong Tan Sang underlined the continuing need to protect the country’s sovereignty during his visit to Lang Son City Cemetery, a message underlined by pupils on Phu Quoc Island.

VN pagoda overcrowding plagues blamed on greed

 Greed and mob mentality have created problems with overcrowding at local pagodas and festivals during spring in recent years, according to cultural experts.

VN enterprises encouraged to invest in science and technology

 In recent years, Vietnam has been recognized internationally as one of the world’s top 10 software outsourcing countries and recognized by UNESCO as one of four nations producing vaccine to treat Rota virus.

Vietnamese athletes seek Olympic berths

 Vietnamese track-and-field athletes are trying to secure berths for the Brazil Olympics via the 2016 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships that began in Doha, Qatar, on February 19.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/2

 VN Customs ranking 8th in customs statistics, Vietnam stock sector has foundation day, Central bank approves company-bank merger, Vietnam's consumer confidence improves: Nielsen, Hai Phong seeks to attract more investors

Social News 20/2

 PM approves programme to prevent child injuries, More CNG buses to run in HCMC, Da Nang's online facility to receive public complaints, ASEAN-Korea Centre’s former chief acknowledged with insignia

Students victimised for hair colour

 Dozens of students at Phan Huy Chu High School in Hanoi were banned from classes on February 16 just because of their hair colour. The students were penalised and forced to do cleaning work instead.

Administrative procedure reform council’s operation scrutinised

 The Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform gathered on February 19 to review its operation in 2015, and set forth tasks for 2016.

New Zealand Wine & Food Festival slated for March

 VietNamNet Bridge – New Zealand Wine & Food Festival will return to the RMIT University campus in HCMC’s District 7 on March 12.

Ngoc Hung: man of theatre and dreams

 VietNamNet Bridge – A sofa and dressing table topped with roses were part of a stunning stage backdrop for a romantic play staged recently in HCM City by the The Gioi Tre (The World of Youth) Drama Troupe.