Hanoi streets are awash in colourful flags, flowers and new year decor as thousands hustle about making last minute preparations to usher in the Year of the Monkey.

 The Binh Duong International Women's Cycling Tournament – Biwase Cup 2016 – is scheduled to kick off in the southern province of Binh Duong on March 8.

 Hung Vuong Corporation (HVG) plans to invest US$15 million to purchase 51 percent of stakes in the Russian Fish Joint Stock Company, Duong Ngoc Minh, chairman and chief Executive officer (CEO), said.

 Viet Nam has invested in upgrading its electricity transmission lines in preparation for importing power from Laos, according to the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVN NPT).

 Domestic airlines have launched promotional ticket fares and increased the number of flights to serve the increasing demand on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

 A spring festival kicked off at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on January 29 as part of the activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year and the 86th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Vietnam needs about US$40-50 billion for traffic infrastructure development from now until 2020, said Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong on the sideline of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

 A total of 12,312 head of livestock, including 9,356 buffalos and cows, were killed by a severe cold that hit the northern and northern-central regions over the past week.

The National Election Council convened its second session in Hanoi on January 29 under the chair of Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, who is also Chairman of the National Assembly. 

 The Government will take measures to create momentum for economic development right in the first months of this year, particularly in the context of dropping oil prices, Chairman of the Government Office Minister Nguyen Van Nen said.

 The ​special envoy of the Chinese Party General Secretary and President Song Tao congratulated Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on his re-election for the 12 th tenure during a meeting in Hanoi on January 29.

 VietNamNet Bridge – While the French Colonialists were busy developing the post and telecommunications sector in Indochina, they failed to realise that the infrastructure they were building would one day be used against them.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The education authority of Ha Noi will increase the percentage of public schools meeting national education standards to 70 per cent by 2020.

 Quarry incident raises alarm for work safety, Ha Noi gets 500 new water hydrants, Land use fee revenue up strongly in HCMC, HCMC’s first metro line likely to connect to neighboring provinces, Patients worry Tet holiday will see blood shortage

 VietNamNet Bridge – Anyone who has visited U Minh Ha forest in the southernmost province of Ca Mau will not forget the beauty of the country’s border area with Trem, Cai Tau and Doc rivers as well as mangrove shades and immense field of reeds.

 Reform needed for EU trade deal, Tet shoppers hit local markets on a budget, Vietnamese firms seek to take advantage of FTAs, US – biggest importer of Vietnam footwear, Tra fish exporters told to register for shipments to U.S.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's geographic location near several fault lines puts it at risk for moderate to severe earthquakes, according to seismologists.

VietNamNet Bridge - According to the Asia Turtle Conservation Program, modern science and technology will be able to restore the Hoan Kiem turtle and bring the soft-shelled turtles back to the Sword Lake in the future by cloning.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese steel manufacturers oppose the possible imposition of safeguard measures against ingot steel imports, saying that higher taxes will increase prices.

 According to the 2015 corruption perception index (CPI) released by the Transparency International (TI), Vietnam ranked fifth in the top 10 Southeast Asian (SEA) countries.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has ordered universities and colleges nation-wide to publish on their websites all information related to this year's regular enrollment plans.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Government and the PM issued 16 legal documents, including 11 Decrees and five Decisions in December 2015.

  Youngsters will once again be indulged at the Japan-like cherry blossom festival Shinnen 2016 – Lunar New Year Festival at Savico Megamall Long Bien centre on January 30 and January 31.

 The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) has chosen Ninh Chu Bay in the southern province of Ninh Thuan to hold the KTA-Kiteboard Tour Asia-Championship 2016.

 VietNamNet Bridge – In 2015 HCM City continued to lead Viet Nam in attracting foreign directed investment with inflows of US$4.5 billion. FDI projects have improved the city's socio-economic infrastructure and created a new facade for it.