Minh, Trang to participate in Malaysia Masters tournament

  Top Vietnamese players Nguyen Tien Minh and Vu Thi Trang will compete at the Malaysia Masters badminton tournament that will be held in Penang, Malaysia, from January 19 to 24.

Japan, US voice concern over China’s test flight

 Japan and the US have expressed their concern over China’s testing landing of a plane on an airstrip illegally built on Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

More patients may be able to safely shower after surgery

 Many patients may be able to shower just two days after their operations without increasing their risk of infections around the incision site, a recent study suggests.

Photos: Female pig porters in Vietnam

At Ba Ren, the largest pig market in Vietnam, in Que Xuan commune in Que Son district in Quang Nam province, there is a special job: holding pigs. Only women do the job, earning VND500-VND2,000 ($0.02-$0.01) for holding a pig. 

SBV’s statement on new exchange rate raises concerns

VietNamNet Bridge - The big change in the exchange rate, if it is made, would cause many depositors to withdraw dollar deposits before maturity, experts have warned, which would create market chaos.

Image: Vietnamese people welcome New Year in joyful mood

 VietNamNet Bridge – People across Vietnam streamed down streets and engaged in a myriad of activities to welcome the New Year 2016.

Vietnamese are spending less on laptops

VietNamNet Bridge - The sale of high-end laptops has dropped while low-cost laptops priced at below VND10 million account for nearly 50 percent of the market.

Russian corruption play to be staged in Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam Youth Theatre will stage a Gogol's play entitled The Government Inspector at Ha Noi Opera House next week.

Hanoi Business and Technology University not ready for medical students

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and Ministry of Health (MoH) will allow the private Ha Noi University of Business and Technology to start recruiting students for its medical and pharmacy courses

Archaeologists announce progress in mapping VN's oldest citadel

 VietNamNet Bridge – Archaeologists from the National Museum of History have announced their preliminary report from the latest field excavations at Viet Nam's oldest citadel in Bac Ninh Province.

Experts see dangers in Chinese takeover deals in textile industry

VietNamNet Bridge - If China can control textile and garment production, it will be able to control the Vietnamese industry that makes products for export, experts have warned.

Beijing investigates high-polluting coal, chemical firms

 Beijing's government is investigating coal and other mining companies, as well as firms producing dangerous chemicals, in an effort to raise safety standards and push polluting enterprises out of the city,

Image: Delicious breakfast at Cai Rang floating market

If you have a chance to visit Cai Rang floating market in Vietnam’s southern Can Tho province, you should not miss a breakfast on boat. It is such a memorable experience!

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/1

 Tra fish exports expected to drop 5% this year, SBV drafting policy to help local industries access loans, Industry, trade sector urged to take on world, US – Vietnam’s top trade partner, Export expected to grow 10 percent in 2016

CO poisoning kills eight in Thanh Hoa lime kiln mishap

 VietNamNet Bridge – Police said carbon monoxide poisoning likely caused eight deaths at a lime kiln in Thanh Hoa Province on Friday.

VN army investigates objects that dropped from the sky

 VietNamNet Bridge – The military is investigating unidentified objects that fell from the sky in two northern provinces, Tuyen Quang and Yen Bai, said an army official on Saturday.

VN shares predicted to improve in 2016

 The stock market will see large improvements on both local markets this year, despite many problems in both local and global economic conditions, said a Viet Nam Investment Securities Company analyst.

Tan Son Nhat Airport to be expanded

The Ministry of Defence will hand over 20 hectares of land near Tan Son Nhat International Airport to the Ministry of Transport for an airport expansion, said an official.

Social News 4/1

Criteria set for high-tech agriculture areas, Over 4,000 bridges to be built for ethnic minorities by 2020, Sunk sand cargo vessel removed from Sai Gon River, Vietnam greets first foreign tourists in New Year

Vietnamese volleyball player to play for Bangkok Glass

Tran Thi Thanh Thuy of VTV-Binh Dien Long An FC has been invited by the Bangkok Glass Club to compete in the Thai National League.

Thai ethnics’ Xoe dance named national cultural heritage

 A ceremony was held in Muong Lay township, the northwestern province of Dien Bien on December 31 to publicise the recognition of the Xoe dance and Kin pang Then ritual as national intangible cultural heritages.

Image: Foreign artists show off sand sculpture in Phan Thiet

 Renowned Italian and Belgian artists performed their sand sculpture building skills in Tien Hai hamlet of Phan Thiet city, the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan on January 1-3.

Saigon Heat signs a contract with American basketball player Paul Williams

  The Ho Chi Minh City-based basketball team Saigon Heat has signed a contract with American basketball player Paul Williams, who is expected to lift the team for the remaining season of the ASEAN Basketball League.

Competition increases in Vietnam’s aviation sector

Growing demand for air travel during national holidays, especially the lunar New Year (Tet) has heated up competition in Vietnam’s aviation sector.

Vietnam property market poised for solid 2016

 The Vietnamese property market is entering 2016 after witnessing recoveries of firms in 2015, driven by macroeconomic improvements and policies of openness.