Vietnam, Indonesia co-operate on education; NA Vice Chairwoman welcomes Lao Justice Minister; New ambassador to Singapore presents credentials; Party chief urges thorough preparations for Party Congresses

 The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat in Malaysia on January 28 was a success, contributing to determining the vision and future of the alliance during 2015 when Malaysia is the ASEAN Chair, said ASEAN chief Le Luong Minh.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Frustrated and incensed residents of Huong Phuoc and Tan Cang villages in Dong Nai Province have been blocking roads used by quarries to transport rocks since Monday.

The General Department of Customs (GDC) says it does not how to tax a so-called “strange vehicle”, a motorhome, because several government agencies have been unable to classify it properly.

 The EU and Vietnam are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2015.

All ASEAN member states agreed to speed up implementation of action plans to complete the remaining 20% of the tasks required to formally establish the ASEAN Community at the end of this year.

 Vietnam and China held their fourth round of negotiations on an agreement regarding free navigation at the Bac Luan river mouth in Beijing from January 27-29.

Hundreds of people recently began hunting rare turtles in the forests and streams in the hills of Hoa Vang District of central city of Da Nang. The search started after a rumour was spread that the turtles could be sold at sky-high prices.

VietNamNet Bridge - A 26-year-old Czech girl, Alena Novotna, is in search of her Vietnamese father, Nguyen Trong Vinh, who had been working in the Czech Republic under a labour export contract.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Animal Asia Foundation (AAF) has launched a campaign calling for an end to the pig-chopping festival in Nem Thuong village in Bac Ninh province, which is usually held on the sixth day of the lunar new year.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Minh Phu Seafood Group is expected to complete a transaction this year to generate capital for its planned expansion abroad. It has withdrawn from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.

VietNamNet Bridge – The franc surged after the Swiss central bank abandoned its bid to artificially keep its value down, a move which has taken a profound toll on a number of Vietnamese residing overseas, especially those in Eastern Europe.

VietNamNet Bridge – Blankets of cloud and midst covering mountain ranges and beautiful valleys in winter entice both domestic and foreign travelers to the northwestern region of Vietnam. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – A stone stele dated back to the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century was discovered at a temple in Duc Dong commune in Duc Tho district of Ha Tinh province.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A Russian man was found dead in a hotel room at Malibu Resort in the resort town of Mui Ne in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan province on Wednesday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi police on Wednesday detected 20 dried primates on a coach running between Hanoi and Cao Bang province that was was stopped for a traffic law violation.

Russia has played a significant role in Viet Nam's war victory as well as its post-war reform success, says Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

The highest bonus planned by a enterprise for an employee during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday (Tet) is VND482 million (US$22,567), according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Many foreign investment funds and real estate traders are looking for land to enter the HCM City real estate market in 2015.

 Nineteen banks in HCMC will lend nearly US$6 billion to local companies, family-run businesses and individuals this year, double the target set by the city government for the year.

VietNamNet Bridge – Non-infectious diseases, such as high-blood pressure, pulmonary ailments, asthma, diabetes and cancer, make up two thirds of the total incidence of diseases and health-related deaths in the nation,

 VietNamNet Bridge – A concert featuring Japanese and Vietnamese opera singers will be held on February 7 at 27, Quang Trung Street, Ha Noi.

HCMC taxi firms say to cut fares; Bach Dang Wharf to close in April; Ha Noi opens rehab centres for drug addicts; Residents suffer alum-water supply; HIV project targets at-risk population; Illegal quarry harrasses village

Nearly 7,000 businesses established in January; TISCO to get $63.2 million to expand production; State Bank calls for lending interest rates to be lowered; Vinamilk announces export plan; 41 Vietnamese firms join billion dollar club

 While many countries have prohibited the use of white asbestos, it is still in use in Vietnam, Vietnam’s Evidence-based Health Policy Development Group (EBHPD) said at a conference in Hanoi last week.