Ha Long on land

 One of the most attractive tourism destinations in the Red River Delta, Ninh Binh now boasts Vietnam’s newest UNESCO’s World heritage site, the Trang An landscape complex.

Skilled doctors lack incentives to work in poor, remote localities

 VietNamNet Bridge – A shortage of medical equipment, poor facilities and low payment are the barriers preventing doctors, especially those with skills, from working in disadvantaged areas.

Why is Germany’s Hubert Burda investing in a Vietnamese search engine?

In early February, Germany's Hubert Burda Media announced that it will invest in Vietnamese web browser and search engine Coc Coc. VietNamNet spoke with Peter Kennedy, Chairman of Hubert Burda Media Asia, and Le Van Thanh, co-founder of Coc Coc.

VN materials industry urged to reduce reliance

VietNamNet Bridge – Pham Xuan Duong, deputy head of the Party's Central Economic Committee, tells Thoi Bao Kinh Te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Times) why the country spends so much on imports.

 

PM’s visit provides renewed energy to VN-Australia relations

 Emeritus Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy has described Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s upcoming visit to Australia as providing a renewed impetus to bilateral relations.

Social News 14/3

HCM City to hold 58 job bazaars this year, Heat wave hits east south region, President Sang donates cement to poor households, Ha Noi traffic violations report to be released, Doctors resuscitate patient after he suffers cardiac arrest

Three foreign bands join charity fundraiser

 Three foreign bands join charity fundraiser, Authentic French dinners to be served across the nation, Ha Noi buffalo festival to start, Nha Trang offers walk on seabed, Tribeca Film Festival honours Vietnamese director

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/3

 Japan’s printer manufacturer expands in Vietnam, Work begins on construction of largest cold storage in Mekong Delta, PM approves new economic corridor targets, Economic concerns on fuel and power price hikes

Novel Jannusi is coming to Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Novel Jannusi, who achieved world fame as a writer and producer for the Backstreet Boys, is coming to Vietnam in mid-July to serve as a jury member on Vietnam Idol.

Vietnam Airlines to operate using equitisation company model

 VietNamNet Bridge – National carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) will officially start operations, following the model of an equitisation company, from April 1 this year.

Youth football: Singapore U14 teams train in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Singapore’s under-14 boys and girls football teams will train and play friendly matches at the youth football training centre in Hanoi from March 14-19,

VN businesses brace for new hike in electricity prices

VietNamNet Bridge - The 7.5 percent price increase in electricity prices, starting from March 16, will cost small businesses hundreds of millions of dong and big businesses billions of dong a month.

One more Oceanbank official arrested

 VietNamNet Bridge – The police have arrested Oceanbank’s deputy director Nguyen Xuan Thang, 36, for investigation, according to the government portal.

SPORTS NEWS 13/3

 Tram, Ngan win national beach volleyball event; Injured Duy, Lam to miss AFC U-23 championship qualifier; Thuong wins U18 women's final in national tennis championships

Travel firms discount cherry blossom tours

 Many local travel firms are offering discounts on cherry blossom tours to Japan and South Korea.

Photos: The largest Chinese street festival in Saigon

 VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of people in Saigon and tourists on March 5 flocked to District 5 in HCM City to participate in the Tet Nguyen Tieu Festival of the Chinese community in Cho Lon.

Kindergarten teachers go on strike

 VietNamNet Bridge – Happy Kids Kindergarten's 33 teachers resumed work today after going on strike yesterday, March 12.

Capital urges crackdown on mineral exploitation

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi Natural Resources and Environment Department has called for tightening measures for managing and handling violations of illegal mineral exploitation in the city.

Vietnam eager to attract Japanese investment in agricultural projects

VietNamNet Bridge – Many Japanese investors have been taking quiet steps to pour money into the agricultural sector in Vietnam. 

Restructuring schemes for major ports may change

The Ministry of Transport has sent the Government its plans to sell majority State stakes at Saigon and Haiphong ports to Vingroup and if they are approved, the restructuring and equitization plans for Vinalines and Saigon Port would change.

Vietnam climbs to 130th position in March FIFA rankings

 The Vietnam men’s national team climbed two places to 130th position in the latest men’s world rankings released by FIFA on March 12. 

Star Wars: Rogue One to be title of stand-alone film

 Star Wars producers have announced the name of the new stand-alone film, to be directed by Brit Gareth Edwards and starring Felicity Jones.

Rare green turtle rescued, released to ocean

 Fishermen in central Thua Thien - Hue yesterday have released an individual of green sea turtle, which is listed as an endangered species by International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN), to the ocean.

Italian photographer explores daily life in Vietnam

 Italian photographer and architect Gianpaolo Arena has completed a photo album titled “My Vietnam” featuring daily life of local residents in the country during one-month stay in Vietnam.

Commerzbank to pay $1.45bn for US banking violations

 Germany's second-largest bank, Commerzbank, has agreed to pay a total of $1.45bn (£980m) to US authorities for violating economic sanctions against businesses in Iran and Sudan.