Vietnamese forward Nguyen Van Quyet has been selected as the Southeast Asia Player of the Week by the Malaysian edition of goal.com.

 Moody's Investors Service raised the outlook on Vietnam's banking system to stable from a negative assessment, noting a stable business climate, improved macro-economic situation and easing liquidity stress.

 Le Tri Tinh, who was in charge of a working shift during which a first-ever power outage occurred at Tan Son Nhat airport, was arrested on December 11 for further investigations on violation of traffic safety regulations.

 The Central and Central Highlands Flood and Storm Prevention Centre had warned over 35,000 fishing vessels of the impending Storm Hagupit in the coastal provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan as of yesterday.

 Passengers are finding it difficult to buy train tickets for the upcoming Tet holidays despite improvements in online booking services.

 Twenty-five Vietnamese workers are currently stuck in Saudi Arabia because they lack work permits or the financial means to leave the country, according to Ly Thai Hai, chairman of the Bac Kan People's Committee.

 Foreigners with working permits or professional licenses granted by Vietnamese authorised agencies will be required to join Vietnam’s social insurance, according to the new Law on Social Insurance announced by the Presidential Office on December 11.

Vietnam, Laos supreme courts talk to foster ties; Vietnam wants to further friendship with India: President; RoK President vows ODA priority to projects in Vietnam; Vietnam expects huge investment inflows from RoK

 VietNamNet Bridge – Some low-cost smartphone and tablet models sold in Vietnam and several Asian and African countries are believed to contain a Trojan sourced from China which operates under certain conditions.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam suffered a nightmare yesterday (Dec 11) at My Dinh Stadium in Ha Noi as they were knocked out of the ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup.

 Vietnam will become an important link of a vast economic connectivity network with 55 partners, including 15 members of the G-20, bringing a wealth of cooperation and investment opportunities to foreign investors, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

 German scholars strongly criticised China’s recent moves in the East Sea (Bien Dong Sea) at a scientific conference held at the headquarters of Die Tageszeitung (TAZ) newspaper in Berlin on December 9.

Vietnam resolutely rejects China’s claim over Hoang Sa (Paracel), Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes and contiguous waters, as well as its “historical rights” to the waters, seabed and subsoil within the “nine-dash line” it unilaterally introduced. 

“As we look toward the 20th anniversary of normalized relations, we have a unique opportunity to deepen our comprehensive partnership in ways that will make it last,” said new US Ambassador to Vietnam at a swearing-in ceremony in Washington DC.

VietNamNet Bridge – Illegal logging in the Hoang Lien – Van Ban national sanctuary in the north is now being conducted underground after local authorities launched campaigns to track down the criminals.

 VietNamNet Bridge – By ratifying the revised Housing Law, allowing foreigners to buy houses in Vietnam, the National Assembly has helped the rich in Vietnam, which will in turn receive big benefits.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Of all the feudal monuments and sites that visitors to Hue get to enjoy, the most prominent and familiar ones are those that reflect the glory of the Nguyen Dynasty

 Scientists have created a chemical that can be added to food to make people feel full. Initial tests showed it helped people to eat less and slow weight gain.

VietNamNet Bridge - The biggest risk for Vietnamese rice growers is not the weather or the market but policies, from exchange rate policy to tax policy to a range of other policies.

 The total assets of the banking industry reached VND6,174 trillion (US$291.22 billion) by the end of October, according to statistics provided by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV).

 VietNamNet Bridge – The collection by the runner-up of the Design Star 2013 competition was launched in Hanoi on the evening of December 9. Most of the designs are evening gowns and work dresses, in the three major colors of metallic, black and red.

Crackdown on smugglers creates border control turmoil; Miracle baby grows well; Vietnamese migrant worker seeks escape from Saudi Arabia; Ha Noi to tighten bus controls for Tet season; Two arrested for trading in stolen fuel

Vietsovpetrol revenue forecast to reach US$4.34 billion;  Weak competitiveness puts Vietnamese businesses in challenges from AEC; Vinalines raises VND315 billion from share auction; Google to meet local app developers

Concerns about the inflow of outdated equipment into Vietnam were raised at a press conference held by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment on Tuesday after the suspension of Circular 20, which prevented the import of used equipment.

Hai Quan newspaper has quoted foreign sources who say that Thailand will sell both newly harvested and inventoried rice at low prices. This will create challenges for Vietnam, which competes with other rice exporters by offering low prices.