Students from the Vietnam National Academy of Music brought home four first prizes from the recent China – ASEAN youth piano competition in the Chinese city of Nanning.

 The 10th Art Festival Autumn Melodies will run in Ho Chi Minh from August 25-30, gathering more than 100 artists.

 Vietnam and Japan have agreed to boost agro-forestry-fisheries product trade during their second high-level dialogue on agricultural development cooperation in Hanoi on August 12.

Vietnam’s export activities will not be immediately affected by the devaluation of the yuan in China, one of the country’s biggest trade partners, said several Vietnamese exporters when being asked about the impacts of the adjustment.

 The central province of Quang Binh has announced a list of 34 tourism projects calling for investments from 2015-2020 with total capital of over 23 trillion VND (1.03 billion USD).

 The Phong Nha – Ke Bang tourism centre has launched a programme to explore Toi (Dark) Cave in the world heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park as part of the Quang Binh Cave Festival 2015.

 Ho Chi Minh City’s Urban Civil Works Construction Investment Management Authority (UCCI) announced the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) No 1 project on August 12.

 A flag pole to mark national sovereignty was inaugurated on Phu Quy Island in the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan on August 12.

 VietNamNet Bridge – This central province, known for its beaches and cave system, including the world's biggest cave, Son Doong, is seeking government approval to develop 10 golf courses along its coast.

 The Foreign Ministry convened a seminar in Hanoi on August 12 to review its 70 years of activities on the occasion of the 70 th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2) and the ministry’s founding anniversary.

 VietNamNet Bridge – If you think Saigon is just about shopping you clearly don’t know what you’re missing. Beyond the glitz and glamour of the city centre are plenty of exciting things to do and exotic foods to try.

 VietNamNet Bridge - In addition to the ultra-thin, deformed shape, many houses of less than five square meters, with up to four floors, have appeared in Hanoi, along the construction of new roads.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island has become a great construction site with over 200 projects and registered capital of more than VND180 trillion ($8.3 billion) by the end of July.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Local exporters are facing additional pressure from rising marine transport costs charged by foreign shipping firms, which has led to Vietnamese exports becoming less competitive.

VietNamNet Bridge - Forests are in big danger as local people don’t want to continue protecting them as they see no benefits from doing so. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese have begun buying more smartwatches but they are still far from becoming highly popular.

VietNamNet Bridge - The draft general education programming opened for public opinion by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) on August 5 will be ‘revolutionary' because the students’ current work overload will be eased.

 Local firms hailed for investing in Singapore, Shrimp sales to US may slump, Technology boosts coffee sector growth, Vietnam unlocks e-commerce potential, Strong dollar improves car import profits, Vietnam invests $155m overseas

 VietNamNet Bridge – Swarms of black-bean beetle insects that swoop down on houses of people in Minh Long Village in the southern province of Binh Phuoc have made life very uncomfortable, often forcing them to seek shelter elsewhere.

 Nguyen Tien Minh advanced to the third round of the 2015 BWF World Championships at Jakarta, Indonesia on August 12 after securing an easy 65 minute 28-21 victory over challenger Parupalli Kashyap from India.

Vietnamese chess master Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son emerged unbeaten champion on August 11 at the 2015 Asian Continental Rapid Chess Tournament held at the Hilton Al Ain Hotel in the United Arab Emirates.

 A music festival that will include dozens of concerts and host several world-renowned performers playing ‘well-known and little-known classics of Vietnamese and American music’ is set to kick off in Hanoi.

 Vietnamese artists will perform the popular tango opera Maria de Buenos Aires this Friday and Saturday (August 14 and 15) at the Ha Noi Opera House.

 Encroachment by the sea has caused soil erosion, threatening residential areas and crops in the coastal Go Cong area in the southern Tien Giang Province.

 A series of activities will be held nationwide to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and Independence Day of Viet Nam (September 2).