Hong Kong crash sparks money grab

 Hong Kong police have appealed to the public to return millions of dollars taken after a van transporting HK$525m ($68m; £44m) crashed on a major road.

Bao Viet changes senior officials

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Insurance Corporation (Bao Viet) has a new Chairman, Deputy Chairman and two members of the Board of Directors.

In pictures: Largest volcanic cave in Southeast Asia discovered in VN

 VietNamNet Bridge - With the support of Japanese scientists, Vietnam has discovered the largest volcano cave system in Southeast Asia with a length of 25 km in Dak Nong province, in the Central Highlands.

Hanoi may operate buses for women only to prevent sexual harassment

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi authorities have asked the Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco) to consider launching some bus routes exclusively for female passengers to help prevent sexual harassment.

Hanoi will not invest $35 million to build 35 monuments: official

 VietNamNet Bridge – The city will not pay millions of US dollars to build 35 monuments, a proposal made by several experts at a seminar, an official said on Tuesday.

12-year-old boy killed by circus elephant

VietNamNet Bridge – A boy in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Dak Nong died at a hospital on Tuesday after being attacked by a 40-year-old elephant of a circus troupe.

Christmas Eve pilgrims gather in Bethlehem

Christians from across the world have gathered in the West Bank town of Bethlehem to mark Christmas Eve in the place they believe Jesus was born. 

Government approves S&T co-operation agreement with El Salvador

Vietnam congratulates new Japanese leaders; President meets overseas Vietnamese in Cambodia; Vietnam, Laos strengthen court cooperation; President meets Cambodia’s Great Supreme Patriarchs

Vietnam, Cambodia issue joint statement

 Vietnam and Cambodia issued a joint statement on the conclusion of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s official visit to Cambodia from December 23-24 at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni.

Concerns raised on Laos’ Don Sahong hydroelectric plant

 VietNamNet Bridge – Agricultural officials from 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta expressed their deep concern about Laos’ proposed hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River,

New sitcom draws teen viewers

 VietNamNet Bridge – 5S Online, a popular new sitcom aimed at teenagers, demonstrates that the sitcom genre is catching on in Viet Nam.

The land of garlic

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ly Son Island some 30 kilometers off the central province of Quang Ngai is better known as “the kingdom of garlic” thanks to its vast garlic fields with a pungent aroma.

Land price proposal affects 97,000 households, individuals in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 97,000 households and individuals in HCMC will be affected by the new land prices proposed by the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment if they are approved.

Smartphone use 'changing our brains'

 Our brains are adapting to touchscreen smartphone technology say researchers who have carried out a study on human volunteers.

Private investors show interest in state-owned enterprises

 VietNamNet Bridge – State-owned enterprises (SOEs) under equitization are turning out to be very attractive in the eyes of private investors.

Breaking impasse in tackling bad debts

 VietNamNet Bridge – There is widespread belief that state-owned bad debt buyer Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC) needs to quicken the sale of bad debts it has bought from banks.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 25/12

Vietnam allows Uber, but under strict monitoring; Vinacomin set to produce 38 million tonnes of coal next year; US investment fund to inject US$300 mil into Vietnam; New firms on Ha Noi Stock Exchange enjoy growth

WB approves $450 million for sanitation project in HCM City

The World Bank announced on December 24 that its Board of Executive Directors approved $450 million in loans for Vietnam to carry out the second phase of an environmental sanitation project in Ho Chi Minh City.

Drifting Chinese ship towed to Nha Trang port

 A Chinese fishing vessel was successfully towed to Nha Trang port in the central province of Khanh Hoa on December 24.

Airfare ceiling lowered, but airfares to remain the same

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has decided to lower the ceiling airfare for domestic air routes, but airlines say the air ticket prices will not go down.

Institutional reform quality is crucial - deputy minister

 Institutional reform quality is crucial - deputy minister; Magnitude 2.9 earthquake hits Hue district; Localities take measures to stop foot-and-mouth disease; Cold front leaves frost in Lao Cai; Investigation launched into bridge repair work

2014: a tough year for Vietnam’s education

 VietNamNet Bridge – This year has been an unlucky one for Vietnamese educators as many new policies issued by the watchdog agencies have faced harsh criticism from the public.

Ad firms call new regulations “absurd”

VietNamNet Bridge – About 70 percent of advertising firms in HCM City are expected to shut down in 2015 if current regulations are not amended.

Models ignore state rules to compete in international beauty pageants

 Downtown flower street to feature rural beauty; Models ignore state rules to compete in international beauty pageants; Vestiges of ancient village found on northern riverbank; Da Lat rings in the New Year with cultural festival

Lam Dong gears up for major tourism festivals

 VietNamNet Bridge – Lam Dong Province is rolling up its sleeves for major tourism and cultural festivals next week to mark the end of the 2014 National Tourism Year of Central Highlands-Dalat.