Cuu village in Van Tu commune, in Hanoi’s outlying district of Phu Xuyen boasts of many old French-style villas which were built between 1920-1945. House owners were villagers who worked as tailors for French residents in that period.

French and Vietnamese models recently took to the catwalk on a four-day fashion show on Ao Dai designed by Ngo Nhat Huy. The event is within the Paris fair 2015 from April 29 to May 29.

 A fire stemming from prolonged intense heat engulfed 12 hectares of the U Minh Ha forest in the southernmost province of Ca Mau at 12 am on May 14.

 The Second Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange is being held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai and Yunnan province of China from May 15-18.

VietNamNet Bridge - The number of newly established real estate firms in the first quarter of 2015 soared by 50 percent compared with the same period years before.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The selected artworks by two Vietnamese and a Thai painter are on display at the exhibition “Choose to Move”, held at Saigon Domaine, 1057 Binh Quoi, Ward 28, Binh Thanh District, HCM City.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The largest city in central Vietnam has opened a series of five-star public toilets to serve tourists and local people.

 Masan Food gets a Cholimex snub, Vietnam shrimp industry has ‘turned the corner’, State capital ownership to be transferred to SCIC, Work starts on 100 mln USD telecom equipment factory, Australia to import fresh lychees from Viet Nam

 VietNamNet Bridge - Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has decided to pay at least $800 million to buy a 72-storey Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower, according to Korea Herald.

 Franco-Portuguese circus troupe performs in Hanoi, HCM City, Exhibition spotlights contemporary Singaporean art, Sai Gon's soul up for discussion, Lang Son all set for summer, Ben Tre to hold fruit festival

 Vietnamese gymnastics will bring 10 athletes to the 28th SEA Games to be held in Singapore next month, targeting to win at least 10 gold medals, with its hopes mainly pinned on top female gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh.

The Dong Nai provincial authorities on May 7 convened an urgent meeting to clarify information provided by a local newspaper that the Dong Nai River is being filled with dioxin-contaminated soil and rocks taken from an area near Bien Hoa Airport.

 Khanh Hoa's Provincial People's Committee has proposed the government to allow it to build an international entertainment centre, including a casino.

 Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang yesterday agreed to allow high-powered motorcycles to travel on highways as part of a trial.

  Foreigners can extend their property ownership after their 50-year ownership expires under the Housing Law, but not for more than an additional 50 years.

VietNamNet Bridge - Though the Windows Phone models launched in the Vietnamese market all bear strong brands and have surprisingly low prices, the mobile phones are becoming less attractive to Vietnamese buyers.

Viet Nam pocketed its third win at the Badminton World Federation Sudirman Cup in China, beating Australian 3-2 yesterday, May 14.

Housing prices in Vietnam are higher than the income of the majority of Vietnamese, but the houses in Vietnam are cheaper than many other countries, according to Nguyen Xuan Quang, president of Nam Long Investment JSC. 

 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his spouse will make an official visit to Vietnam on May 22-23 at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang.

 Japan’s “first ladies of illusion” Ai and Yuki will thrill Vietnamese audiences with their “Zen Magic” programme in Hanoi from May 28 to June 1.

 An estimated 3.2 trillion VND (147.4 million USD) is needed to build a new terminal at Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang central city.

VietNamNet Bridge – Bach Mai General Hospital has, for the first time, successfully treated two prostate cancer patients by using the radioactive seed implant technique.

NA Standing Committee wraps up 38th meeting, Vietnamese gov’t pledges to promote sustainable development, PM receives Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister, Vietnam’s efforts to promote gender equality spotlighted

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh declared Canada’s recent end to a probe into alleged subsidies on imported Vietnamese steel oil pipelines a sound decision.

 President Truong Tan Sang met Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan Ogtay Asadov in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on May 14, saying that Vietnam values the development of ties with traditional friends, including Azerbaijan.