First-ever elevated monorail launched in Da Nang

 The first-ever elevated monorail system in Vietnam commenced operation at the Asia Park in the central city of Da Nang on January 1.

Canadian passenger given first aid after stroke on Jetstar flight

 A Canadian national on a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City was saved after suffering a stroke 20 minutes after the aircraft left Noi Bai Airport on December 31.

Traffic accidents kill 65 people during New Year holiday

 During the first three days of 2016, there were 124 traffic accidents and 65 fatalities, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over Bu Prang area

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen have recently inaugurated border markers No. 30 and No. 275, which marked the completion of planting all grand markers at 10 pairs of international border gates. 

Party Chief urges police to ensure safety

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has urged the Ministry of Public Security's Mobile Police High Command to ensure absolute safety for the country's major events in 2016.

Fed's new rate-hike tools passed key test, Fischer says

 New financial tools meant to help the Federal Reserve pull off its historic interest rate hike last month have worked, easing some internal concerns at the U.S. central bank,

Banks earn high revenue from VIP clients

Credit is believed to be the service which feeds Vietnamese banks. However, the banking services provided to VIP customers make up 60-70 percent of revenue of many bank branches.

Asia markets in guarded start to 2016, oil jumps on Middle East tension

 Asian shares began their first trading of 2016 on a cautious note on Monday while oil prices jumped 3 percent after Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric spurred regional anger and geopolitical tensions.

Climbers, ‘cloud hunters' conquer the challenge of Ta Chi Nhu peak

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ta Chi Nhu peak in Tram Tau District in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai is the dream mountain shared by many who love climbing and "cloud hunting".

The man who owns the most elephants in Central Highlands

VietNamNet Bridge - In Le Village, situated on the romantic Lac lakeside in Lien Son Town of Dak Lak, there is a man believed to have the most elephants in the Central Highlands.

4G may not boom in 2016: Experts

 VietNamNet Bridge – Next year could be just a starting year for the implementation of 4G services in Viet Nam, and there may not be a boom in the market in this regard.

Teachers of English reluctant to take refresher English courses

The HCM City Education and Training Department has released a list of 43 high school teachers who did not participate in refresher courses as part of the project on upgrading English skills in 2011-2020. 

Record year for starting business in Vietnam

 More than 94,750 businesses were founded in 2015, representing a rise of nearly 30 per cent compared to the previous year, statistics have revealed.

Vietnam protests China’s pilot flight to illegally-built airport in Truong Sa

 Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh has expressed Vietnam’s resolute protest against China’s pilot flight to an illegally-built airport on Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) reef in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Annual Homeland Spring programme welcomes back Overseas Vietnamese

 The annual “Xuan Que huong” (Homeland Spring) programme, a run-up to the Lunar New Year festival, will take place in Hanoi on January 31 with various cultural activities for overseas Vietnamese.

Detailed rules on investment conditions and procedures in Vietnam

 The long-awaited decree detailing the implementation of the 2014 Investment Law was finally issued last month with clear regulations on investment conditions and procedures, especially those applicable to foreign investors.

Vietnamese consumers willing to spend, ANZ Chief Economist

Mr. Glenn Maguire, ANZ Chief Economist, South Asia, ASEAN & Pacific, spoke about consumption trends in Vietnam now and in the future.

VN coffee exporters suffer decline in global market share

Vietnam’s second position on the list of the world’s biggest coffee exporters has been threatened. The country's coffee market share has decreased from 22 percent last year to 18 percent in 2015. 

Son Doong Cave looks like it’s on another planet

VietNamNet Bridge – US newspaper CnTraveller has cited Son Doong Cave in Vietnam’s central QuangBinh Province among the world’s top 15 Places that look like they’re on Another Planet. 

Artisan preserves “Quan ho” singing

VietNamNet Bridge – Eighty-three-year-old Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Ban has devoted her life to preserving “Quan ho” (love duet singing). 

Foreign investors lose interest in SOE shares

Foreign ownership in SOEs may indeed be welcome but the ongoing obstacles are seeing many foreign investors lose interest.

Vietnam’s labor productivity increases nearly 24% in five years

 VietNamNet Bridge - Compared to 2010, the average productivity per worker in Vietnam increased nearly 24%, but it was not enough to offset the gap in productivity with other countries in the region.

Man swaps land for rubbish treatment plant

 VietNamNet Bridge – For most people, rubbish represents the end of all activities of human life. For Le Thien An, it is the beginning of everything.

Gov’t figures out Top 9 key tasks for 2016

Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 28 presented a Government’s draft Resolution on key tasks and measures guiding the realization of the Plan for socio-economic development and state budget estimate in 2016.

National Men's Cycling Tournament to cover 11 localities

 The 18th National Men's Cycling Tournament-Ben Tre Television Cup is scheduled to begin in the southern Ben Tre Province on January 11.