Va and Nuoc Nut caves through American photographer’s lens

 VietNamNet Bridge – Famous for taking photos inside Son Doong Cave, photographer Ryan Deboodt is also well-known for capturing impressive shots of the caves in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, including Va and Nuoc Nut caves.

Financial shortfalls seen hitting 350 projects in HCMC

 VietNamNet Bridge – The city would not be able to begin work on 352 state-funded projects next year due to financial shortfalls, according to the HCMC Department of Finance.

Social News 1/8

Traffic cameras to become operational in October, HCM City to raise car registration fees by 5 times from September, Ethnic victims of slavery return home, North Vietnam braces for landslides, floods

Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2015 slated for September

 Around 800 local and international runners from 45 countries will join the Viet Nam Mountain Marathon 2015 organised in Sa Pa in the northern province of Lao Cai on September 26.27.

Road maintenance fee halt to be reported to PM in September

 Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai has instructed the Ministry of Transport to consider the Central Road Maintenance Fund’s proposal to halt collection of road maintenance fee on motorbikes from next January and report to the PM before September 15.

Surveillance cameras help stem crime in seedy HCM City ward

VietNamNet Bridge – Once the hotspot in Go Vap District for local crimes, prostitution and drug addicts shooting up in alleys, Ward 12 today has seen a sharp drop in the crime rate after the installation of 300 surveillance cameras.

Foreign media speaks glowingly of Vietnam’s economy

VietNamNet Bridge - International investors are setting their eyes on South East Asia, believing that Vietnam is an ideal destination.

Vietnamese engineer invents tuna anesthetizing equipment

VietNamNet Bridge - A machine to anesthetize tuna, which keeps fish fresh after being caught, has been invented by an engineer and lecturer at Tuy Hoa Industry Junior College.

Young stars often quickly fade

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many young, talented singers who win first or runner-up prizes at famous local singing contests end up facing obstacles, and sometimes losing their way, in the race to fame.

Man City eager to return to Vietnam: commercial director

 Manchester City is keen to come back to Vietnam in the near future, Commercial Director of City Football Marketing Omar Berrada said in a press briefing in Hanoi on July 30 following the team’s match against the Vietnam national football team.

The necklaces of Co Tu men

VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors to the villages of Co Tu ethnic minority people in Quang Nam Province on special festivals will have an opportunity to see men wearing the shining necklaces made of silver and agate

More than annoying

 Steps are being taken, but it seems that sexual harassment-free workplaces in Vietnam are still some way off.

Gazprom Neft yet to buy into oil refining firm

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and Gazprom Neft have not reached agreement on the latter’s acquisition of a 49% stake at Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co. Ltd,

Volunteers lend wings to kids' imagination

 VietNamNet Bridge – Enthusiastic teachers and students in disadvantaged areas are benefitting hugely from an initiative to set up free libraries that give them access to books and other reading material.

Australian veteran seeks mass grave of 42 Vietnamese soldiers for 12 years

VietNamNet Bridge - Haunted by burying 42 Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed in a battle, Brian John Cleaver has returned to Vietnam to find the mass grave.

Vibrant development in east of HCMC

 HCM City's eastern area taking off with a range of new urban areas and apartment projects.

Pesticides and chemicals polluting flower villages

VietNamNet Bridge - The sun was hot, but it was still foggy in the Me Linh flower village in Hanoi. The strong smell from the flower fields came from the pesticide the farmers had just sprayed.


Martial arts book translated to French

 VietNamNet Bridge – For the first time, a Vietnamese martial arts book, titled "Lich su vo hoc Viet Nam" (the History of Martial Arts in Viet Nam), has been translated into French.

New regulation set for foreign vehicles participating in search and rescue operations in Vietnam

Ministries of Transport, Defence, Public Security and Foreign Affairs have issued a joint Circular No. 15/2015/TTLT BGTVT-MOD-BCA-BNG on licensing means and forces accompanied by foreign vehicles to join search and rescue activities in Vietnam.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/8

 DGW announces IPO price for August debut, Sembcorp launches global logistics hub in Vietnam, Footwear exports make big gains, Bond issuance raises concerns, TPP negotiations enter key phase, Mobile Marketing Forum on way

HCM City’s vehicle registration fee hike seen unworkable

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCMC’s plan to revise up vehicle registration fees could help boost budget collections but not reduce private car traffic in the city, according to businesses and individuals.

Four persons get death sentences for drug trafficking

 The Lang Son Province's People's Court has convicted 10 persons for trafficking nearly 100 packs of heroin from Viet Nam to China.

Leaders laud normalization of ties in Washington DC

 Speaking at the Vietnam Embassy in Washington DC on July 31, Senator John McCain reiterated his commitment the US would always stand by Vietnam’s side in maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.

Five teams to inspect granting of pardons to prisoners

 Five teams will look into granting amnesty for prisoners in a number of localities from August 3-14 in the run-up to the 70th National Day (September 2).

Vietnam learns from Australia’s press management experience

 A delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications led by Deputy Minister Truong Minh Tuan paid a working visit to Australia from July 25-31 to learn from the country’s experience in press management.