The Philippines agreed to buy 150,000 tons of rice from Vietnam in a tender on June 5 and could import additional volumes to avert a potential spike in prices of the staple if adverse weather threatens the local crop.

 National Assembly deputies discussed a Standing Committee report on wrongful convictions and compensation for those involved on June 5.

 Group of Seven leaders will express their concern over any unilateral action to change the status quo in the East China Sea and East Vietnam Sea amid tensions between China and a number of Asian countries, Japan's Yomiuri newspaper said on June 6.

 As part of precautions against MERS-CoV, the Health Ministry established four rapid-response teams in the northern, southern, central and Central Highlands regions on June 5.

VietNamNet Bridge - BPhone, the only high-end smartphone developed by a Vietnamese company, uses Chinese global positioning technology Beidou, Global Positioning System (GPS) from the US and Glonass from Russia.

 The 28th Sea Games flame was officially lit on June 5.

 Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh met with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of SEA Games on June 5.

 Many banks have raised deposit rates over the past few weeks to improve liquidity amid the pressure of a stronger US dollar.

EuroCham, EuroCham GGSC and IISD announced the results of their study to determine the position of foreign direct investors toward energy pricing and supply policy in Vietnam on June 5.

 Experts voiced their concerns over vulnerable farmers and agribusinesses that are likely to lose in their own home market as several free trade agreements effective early this year have stimulated fiercer competition.

 The Ho Chi Minh City Police on June 4 detained another member of BBG financial group to look for evidence of illegal trading activities.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Construction (MIC) reported that the real estate market has warmed up as apartments have been selling well, thus reducing the inventory considerably. However, analysts have expressed doubt about the figures.

 The Centrals Highland province of Gia Lai’s Association for Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin inaugurated a detoxification centre for AO victims, the first of its kind in the province, on June 5.

 Sappers in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on June 6 deactivated a 300kg bomb in Tan Binh ward, Dong Xoai town, Binh Phuoc province.

 Vietnamese nationals illegally residing in the Republic of Korea (RoK) now can return to their homeland without paying penalty fines or being detained under a voluntary repatriation programme.

 Vietnam and Bulgaria issued a joint communiqué on the outcomes of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s official visit to Bulgaria.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov have agreed to bolster Vietnam – Bulgaria cooperation in all fields towards a strategic partnership.

 The working groups on the sea area beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tokin and cooperation in less sensitive maritime issues between Vietnam and China convened the seventh round of talks in Hanoi from June 3-4.

VietNamNet Bridge – After the big success of TV series Tuoi Thanh Xuan (Forever Young), a Viet Nam-South Korea production, Tran Nha Phuong is part of a joint project between Viet Nam Television and Japan's TBS.

In order to increase transparency and create a healthier business environment within the insurance sector, the Ministry of Finance has proposed that all public non-insurance companies be listed on the stock exchange.

 VietNamNet Bridge - With its unique architecture, the locations that take advantage of the natural beauty of Vietnam and great services, these luxury resorts are increasingly popular worldwide.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Duong was 18 and looking forward to seeing a new place and meeting new people when she set out with her aunt Mai and Mai's boyfriend Lap to see his parents in Vinh Phuc Province.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Tran Le Xuan palace, Queen Nam Phuong palace and Palaces 1, 2, 3 have  architectural and historic value. They are places for tourists to learn more about the golden age of Da Lat.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The central city of Da Nang has shortlisted 12 coastal development projects whose business licences will be revoked next month because they have been two slow or unduly delayed.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Herbalist Nguyen Khac Bao in Bac Ninh Province is well-known as the man who corrected 918 mistakes in the translation of the famous Vietnamese verse-novel The Tale of Kieu. Hoang Trung Hieu traces his passion.