VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has decided to raise the petrol import tariff just to please petroleum importers who have reportedly incurred losses because of plummeting oil prices.

 Six farmers drown as fishing boat overturns; Court starts hearing former VietinBank execs’ appeals; Hanoi authorities clamp down on illegal bars; Coach accident leaves six dead, eight injured; Master scheme to develop height of Vietnamese people

 National Games 2014 wraps up with 57 records set; Tam wins final Trans-Viet stage; Tai to miss first V-League game; National U19 football event to kick off

 VietNamNet Bridge – The public frustration these days is overwhelming but understandable following the top-rank honor conferred on a local farmer by the Cambodia government for his contribution to the country

A Vietnam Airlines A321 made an emergency landing at Noi Bai Airport yesterday due to what aviation officials called "technical problems".

 Five soldiers were killed and another four injured after a vehicle plunged into a chasm in the central province of Quang Nam on December 16.

 Thousands are flocking to Sapa to welcome the early arrival of snow this year and bask in the alpine Swiss Alps atmosphere typified by the splendour of the glistening landscapes in the winter sun.

 Hoang Anh Gia Lai will fly to Thailand for a 10-day training course in preparation for the coming V-League.

VietNamNet Bridge – Scientists have voiced their concern about the risks in the current movement to plant mini watermelons.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Vietnam will continue to pursue its current dong/dollar exchange rate stabilization policy in 2015. Vietnamese dong depreciation, if it occurs, will not be higher than two percent.

 The Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) has proposed to increase the power price by an average 9.5 per cent from this month.

 A series of traces revealing the most sufficient evidence of cultural layers dating from the 11th century to 20th century have been detected in the Kinh Thien Palace of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel’s central section.

The Prime Minister has agreed to advance 555 billion VND (over 26 million USD) from the State budget for 18 localities to implement 48 urgent projects to stabilise the lives of free migrant people.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has suggested to the Ministry of Transport the reduction of economy-class airfares on domestic routes.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered further investigation into a transnational drug trafficking ring recently uncovered by the central province of Ha Tinh’s border guards.

 At 8:00 pm on December 16, rescue forces made contact with trapped workers in the Da Dang-Dachomo hydropower plant tunnel collapse in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

Vietnam-Venezuela diplomatic ties marked in Hanoi; Vietnam congratulates Japan over lower house election; Deputy PM stresses prospects for Qatar-Vietnam ties; Vietnam, Laos vow to work together for stable shared border

Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks with his UAE counterpart yesterday during which both sides agreed to further beef up bilateral partnership in all fields, especially trade, investment, financial-banking and labour cooperation.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) says that the Boeing 727-200 that has been left at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi for seven years will be auctioned in the near future.

VietNamNet Bridge – Thang Loi Hotel, the most beautiful and famous hotel in Hanoi, has new investors, including the BRG Group, a private corporation with golf, real estate and finance and banking businesses.

Scientists have successfully restored a human skull dating back to 5,000-6,000 years ago found at the Bau Du archaeological site in Nui Thanh district, the central province of Quang Nam.

Sportradar, the sports data firm hired by the Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) to supervise the AFF Cup 2014, has concluded that there were no signs of match-fixing in the second-leg semifinal game between Vietnam and Malaysia.

 President Truong Tan Sang on December 16 received newly-accredited ambassadors from the US, Panamanian and Qatar who presented him their credentials.

 Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) received the visiting Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Harry Harris, in Hanoi on December 16.

 At least 100 people, 80 of them children, have been killed in a Taliban assault on an army-run school in Peshawar, Pakistani officials say.