Ministry maps out new solutions to environment woes

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will face a range of environmental protection challenges over the coming years despite efforts made by the Government and environment sector over the past five year.

Phu Quoc Island’s coral reefs are dying

 VietNamNet Bridge – Coral reefs on the seabed of Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, are being destroyed at an alarming rate, Tuoi Tre Newspaper has reported.

Venture funds hesitate to enter Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge - Venture funds have been very active in ASEAN countries, but not in Vietnam, despite the need for capital from Vietnamese technology startups.

Word-of-mouth key in Vietnam consumption

Across Southeast Asia, 88 percent of consumers placed the highest level of trust in word-of-mouth recommendations from people they know. Word-of-mouth endorsements gathered the highest increase in approval from Vietnamese consumers.

More Vietnamese laborers sent overseas than targeted

The first nine months of this year saw more Vietnamese sent overseas for guest work than the entire year’s target of 90,000 set early this year by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 5/10

 GSO: Economy grows 6.5% in Jan-Sept, Power price hike proposal rejected, Goods producers, distributors strike cooperation deals, Ministry proposes delaying ice-to-fish ratio rule, Vietnam promotes overseas investment

Official refutes think tank’s calculation of public debt

A finance ministry official has refuted the figure of public debt in 2014 as given by the Policy and Development Institute under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, saying that the method of calculation is not in line with regulations.

Banking industry gears up for ASEAN

Vietnam banks have been in a restructuring mode lately as part of their attempt to get the banking system in shape for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic integration at the end of the year,

Diseases undermine Mekong fruit exports

Mekong Delta provinces are rich in orchards with many kinds of fruit for export, but a shortage of disease-free seedlings is threatening the industry.

In pictures: Vocational training at a Buddhist pagoda

Situated in a place shaded by ancient trees, Kom Pong Chray Pagoda is known not only as one of the most beautiful ancient pagodas in Tra Vinh but also as a place where wood carving is taught to children of the Khmer ethnic people.

Quang Binh national park rescued red list animals

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in this central province has rescued seven civets from hunters that entered the park illegally last Tuesday.

The last paper mache mask makers in Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge – In the past, making mask from paper mache was a popular and unique cultural feature of Hanoi. However, the art has faded into oblivion over time.

Gov’t bonds not selling, sparks concern about gov’t spending

VietNamNet Bridge - The proportion of government bonds sold in the primary market has dropped to a low of 20 percent for the year.

HCM City to build multiple sluices to ease flooding

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCMC government plans to spend VND9.85 trillion constructing a number of flood tide control sluices and seven kilometers of dyke in different parts of the city to mitigate flooding in inner-city areas.

Green coffee shops in Saigon

 VietNamNet Bridge - In the heart of bustling Ho Chi Minh City are quite a few tree-covered cafes.

Boeing sets up factory in China, Vietnam hopes to get benefits

VietNamNet Bridge - Boeing has set up a factory in to assemble aircraft in China, which is expected to bring opportunities to Vietnam.


Miss Deaf Vietnam finishes third in worlds

 One of the last candidates left standing at Miss Deaf World, Viet Nam's Miss Deaf, Le Thi Thuy Doan has used money she earned on her own to connect with deaf people across Viet Nam and the globe.

Dai Bai bronze-makers keep fires burning

 VietNamNet Bridge – Bronze-makers in Dai Bai Village have preserved their jobs for more than 1,000 years by expertly crafting their refined products. Trung Hieu and Gia Bao report.

Scholarly pursuits

Cooperation in education is one of the key pillars in Vietnam-UK relations and promises much for the future.

Garment, textile firms face tough, bigger rivals

 VietNamNet Bridge – Several domestic garment and textile companies would face more challenges from large rivals following integration, said Tran Quang Nghi, chairman of the National Garment and Textile Group (Vinatex).

Soft volleyball keeps older generation active

 VietNamNet Bridge – Soft volleyball, a sport for those between 45 and 70 looking to stay up and at ‘em, is played the same as normal volleyball, except with gentler movements. Minh Trang reports.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/10

 Power prices unchanged, Fruit & vegetable exports reach $1.3 billion, IP, EZ revenue heading upwards, Vibrant Q3 performance in Hanoi high-end apartments, Savills: IP land rent in HCMC higher than in Hanoi

Water resources, eroding land need saving

 VietNamNet Bridge – Water management has become a major topic of discussion in recent years among Viet Nam's lawmakers, experts and society. The country has been struggling to deal with water-related issues

Nam cake - a traditional cake

Nam cake (steamed shrimp rice cake) is made of rice flour, shrimp, wrapped in phrynium leaves and served with fish sauce. The cooking procedure seems simple but actually requires a great deal of time and effort from the cake maker

Vietnam tourism sees signs of recovery

 Vietnam has seen an increase in the number of tourist arrivals in recent months, ending the declining trend seen since the beginning of this year.