VietNamNet Bridge – Ton Hoang Khanh Lan won three gold medals at the 18th National Bodybuilding Championships, which concluded in the southern Dong Nai Province over the weekend.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese retail market is expected to be re-divided with the presence of Vingroup, a Vietnamese company with powerful financial capability, and other firms.

 VietNamNet Bridge - While performing maintenance of an aircraft of Vietnam Airlines, technical staff discovered a Nokia 8800 Diamond Arte cellphone, encrusted with 112 diamonds, trapped in the electrical box of a passenger seat.

VietNamNet Bridge - Since its launch in mid-2015, BPhone, the first high-end smartphone model, has faced problems. Vietnamese have lost interest in the product.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Because of rapid urbanization, Hanoi needs a huge amount of names for new roads and streets but the bank of names, particularly the names of celebrities, has been exhausted.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Private jet owners or fliers can earn their licences in Viet Nam, starting from 2020, following a joint project between Viet Nam and New Zealand.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Preventive Medicine Department confirmed that risk of disease spreading across borders is very large while human infections with a new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus being reported from China.

 The Ministry of Transport divested from non-core businesses in 36 State-owned enterprises under its management in the first 10 months of this year, collecting nearly VND2.4 trillion (US$107 million).

VietNamNet Bridge - It will be difficult to find solutions to develop agriculture in the Mekong River Delta if a series of hydropower dams are built on the river’s upper course, especially when Vietnam does not have a strong agriculture.

 A total of 65 programmes and events will be held throughout the National Tourism Year 2016 titled “Exploring the southern land”, the organising board said a news conference in Hanoi on November 16. 

 Vietnam's 2016 targets approved by the National Assembly

 Tours from/to France will still be running as scheduled following a series of deadly terror attacks across Paris on November 13, said Tran Thi Viet Huong, Deputy Director of PR Department at Vietravel, a major tour operator. 

 A Vietnamese government leader has called for joint efforts to maintain the seas of East Asia as an environment of peace and stability, promote the enforcement of international laws, and ensure maritime and air transportation and safety.

Indonesian expert hails Vietnam’s nuclear power development, Vietnamese in Czech advised to be cautious about visiting Paris, Vietnam Airlines launches Nha Trang – Hai Phong air route, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia youths seek investment links

President Truong Tan Sang and his spouse left Hanoi for Manila, the Philippines, on November 17 to attend the 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung gave a reception in Hanoi on November 16 for special advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Tsutomo Takebe who is on a working visit to Vietnam. 

 The Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba commenced its 33rd session in Hanoi on November 16, reviewing past cooperation and setting out new tasks. 

 Vietnam and the Czech Republic see great potential in a wide range of sectors, particularly scientific research, Czech Senate President Milan Stech said while meeting with President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi on November 16. 

 Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang answered deputies’ queries on reforestation and advanced technology application in industrial production at a Q&A during the 13th National Assembly’s 10th session on November 16. 

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and PM John Key agreed to lift up the two-trade volume between Viet Nam and New Zealand to US$1.7 billion by 2020 during their talks in Ha Noi on November 15.

 The Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Pham Thi Hai Chuyen admitted to the slow launch of hi-quality vocational training initiatives during a National Assembly’s question-and-answer session in Hanoi on November 16. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – For those looking for a short weekend trip, or those who just love travelling, a visit to Tan Lap "floating eco-tourism village" in the southern province of Long An is ideal.

 Substantial infrastructure development is turning the northern port city of Haiphong into an attractive destination for investment.

The Q2 labor market bulletin showed that while the unemployment rate has decreased, the number of workers with bachelor’s and master’s degrees has increased to approximately 200,000, which accounts for 17.4 percent of unemployed workers.

VietNamNet Bridge - The rapid increase in exports to one market may force Vietnam to face anti-dumping lawsuits, while large exports to China will bring risks as this is an unsafe market.