Ministry blocks cable-car plan for giant cave

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has told Quang Binh Province authorities to postpone the highly controversial Son Doong Cave cable-car project.

Viber to be put under strict control for paid services

Under a draft circular on the management of internet-based voice and text services, Viber will have to cooperate with Vietnamese telcos and obey the regulations on charges and service quality to be eligible to provide Viber Out in Vietnam.

Hi-tech transfers by foreign firms remain a pipe dream

 VietNamNet Bridge – Sixty six per cent of the technology transferred to domestic firms came from other domestic firms using low and medium-grade technology,

Ha Tinh sentences rioters to prison

 VietNamNet Bridge – The People's Court of central Ha Tinh Province yesterday (Nov 12) sentenced 11 people to prison for between 15 to 39 months and three others to suspension for causing public disorder

Nghia wins Nanning event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vu Tuan Nghia has won the Nanning-ASEAN Board and Card Games International Invitation Tournament 2014's overseas group in China.

High school teacher dismayed about students’ lack of life skills

An informal survey of students’ life skills found that 12th graders lack general knowledge which they should have learned many years ago.

Vietcombank sells Vinalines’ debt

Vietcombank has sold the debt owed to it by the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), which is undergoing a mandated restructuring process as requested by the government.

Demand for environmental technology soars

 VietNamNet Bridge – All of Vietnam’s 16 economic sectors will need around 7.6 billion USD of investment in environmentally friendly technology,

Residents urged to conserve rainwater for household use

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Climate Change Steering Board has suggested that residents collect rainwater for household use as a way to reduce flooding and save clean water.

Vietnam creates special zones for foreign investment projects

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Planning and Investment has been drafting a law for the operation of three special economic zones in three provinces of Viet Nam for foreign investment projects.

The peaceful season on Hon Dau Island

 VietNamNet Bridge – In autumn, the number of visitors to Hon Dau Island falls sharply, but the lack of people makes this small island very peaceful.

Making music to make it big

 VietNamNet Bridge – Young musicians and producers in HCM City this year have succeeded in winning fans and setting new entertainment trends, producing CDs and music videos in different styles.

More software parks to go up

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCMC government looks set to build five new software parks in the city and one in each of Dalat City and Nam Dinh Province.

Mekong Delta looks for more foreign investment

 VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign investment in agriculture in the Mekong Delta remains low, with a major portion of the funds invested in the industrial, food processing and real estate sectors.

VN mulls Criminal Code improvements

Over 4.8 million kids vaccinated against measles-rubella; Japan proposes underground malls at future metro station; War-left bomb safely deactivated in Yen Bai provinve; Regional minimum wages to be increased from next year

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 13/11

 Local carriers busy for new int’t air routes; PM considers support for Lao Bao economic zone; Trade shortfall with China swells; US$700-million waste complex to go up in Long An; Major IT event set for December

Deputy PM to visit Israel in late November

 Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai will visit Israel in late November, with a view to furthering bilateral relations, especially in science and technology.

New SOE watchdog proposed

 VietNamNet Bridge – National Assembly deputies yesterday (Nov 11) suggested creating a Government agency to supervise the use of State funds by State-owned enterprises.

Trade deficit with China poised to hit record high

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's trade deficit with China could hit a new record high of US$27 billion in 2014, a 14-per cent year-on-year increase,

Hoi An builds dykes to protect popular attractions

 VietNamNet Bridge – This ancient city is taking steps to prevent its Old Quarter and the highly popular Cua Dai Beach from being washed away by climate change.

Vietnam, Australia strengthen defence ties

 VietNamNet Bridge – Australia is the leading nation in helping Vietnam train English language and military skills for personnel, especially the peacekeeping force,

Black boxes show speeding on the rise in Viet Nam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Black box data collected by the Transport Ministry shows 37,750 vehicles committed 2.1 million speed limit violations in October.

Footwear makes inroad into US market

 VietNamNet Bridge – Sales to the US market is the aim of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement as Vietnam has already signed bilateral or multilateral free trade pacts with most of the other parties involved in the negotiations.

National striker Thang retires

 VietNamNet Bridge – National team striker Nguyen Viet Thang announced his retirement from football after failing to find a club for the coming season.

Vietnam offers foreign-invested enterprises special favors

Analysts and economists, siding with domestic businesses, have voiced great concern over the generous incentives given to foreign invested enterprises and the undervalued role of Vietnamese businesses in the national economy.