The Ministry of Finance successfully issued US$1 billion in international bonds yesterday after holding roadshows across the world from October 29 to November 5, according to the Ministry of Finance's website.

 Some 8,000 helium balloons have been released into the night sky over Germany's capital at the culmination of events to mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 The assistance that Singaporeans gave a Vietnamese tourist who was scammed when he bought an iPhone 6 in Singapore has earned much attention and applause from Vietnamese newspapers and netizens.

 The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has officially approved the issuance of a BioSafety Certificate for Dekalb Vietnam (Monsanto) and Syngenta Vietnam's corn seeds with weed management traits.

 TPP Agreement unlikely to be reached by the end of 2014; Vietnam, Australia foster military ties; HCM City wants to cooperate with Japan in personnel training; Crime of torture proposed for Criminal Code

 President Truong Tan Sang has met with his Philippine counterpart Benigno Aquino III, attended a round-table talk with US businesses and visited the Vietnam Embassy in Beijing.

 President Truong Tan Sang arrived in Beijing, China on November 9 for the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

VietNamNet Bridge – Forty-five per cent of Vietnamese smartphone owners used their device during their last purchase, the highest rate in the region, according to a recent study carried out by Internet giant Google.

VietNamNet Bridge – Little Japan, an area around Le Thanh Ton and Thai Van Lung streets in downtown HCMC where there are over 70 restaurants, spas and other businesses of the Japanese community,

 VietNamNet Bridge – Water pollution is posing alarming risks to residents of numerous craft villages, according to a survey that the Viet Nam Environment Administration released recently.

Mui Ne  has long been dubbed the "resort capital" of Vietnam and has been considered the most attractive resort destination of foreign tourists. However, it is facing a risk of losing this position to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The International Monetary Fund’s Resident Representative for Vietnam Sanjay Kalra has expressed concerns over State-owned enterprise (SOE) reform due to soaring debts in the sector.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Despite a Ministry of Education and Training ban on after-school classes, many students and parents take no notice. Some even use the classes as child minding centres while they are still at work.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Quang Huy has been waiting for 10 years for the return of his favourite comic, entitled Long Than Tuong (The Dragon General).

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport has said it would enforce stricter measures to stop overweight cargo shipments, such as temporarily shutting ports and firing directors who violated the MOT's weight regulations.

 Jan-Oct export-import tax collections up 14.4%; FPT IS wins US$1.4 million deal in Philippines; Garment sector seeks material suppliers from India; Vietnam economy enjoys steady growth in 2014; FDI firms encouraged to invest in agriculture

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Asia-Pacific Father&Son Golf Tournament will kick off at the Long Thanh Golf Resort in Dong Nai Province next month.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam hopes to increase awareness of child labour and improve the legal framework to protect children at risk under a five-year programme costing VND516 billion.

 Updated information about cultural events in major cities of Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – Smuggling had become a national disease and operations had become increasingly complex, Nguyen Trong Tin, deputy head of the Market Watch Department.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam spent US$1.1 billion on auto imports during the first 10 months of the year, nearly doubling 2013's figure and registering the highest level over the last five years.

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCMC Catholic Youth Group has launched a project to perform Broadway-styled musical The Eternal Lamb (Con Chien Khong Moi) for free starting from December 20.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Le Trung Thuc has adopted dozens of disadvantaged students and helped them change their lives for the better.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Cao Thi Thanh Huyen was the first Vietnamese student to attend the European Forum Alpbach, the Global Entrepreneurship Summer School and, most recently, the Clinton Global Initiative University.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Artist Phan Hai Bang, who created a very special type of paper called truc chi, is now working with his team to bring back what he calls "old values" in a really big way.